Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-07

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The charts below show the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The pie charts compare the intake of three types of nutrients in typical meals, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Overall, it is evident that the proportion of sodium and saturated fat in a meal is the highest in dinner, whereas added sugar is at snack time. In breakfast the intake of all the three nutrients is the lowest.

To commence with, the intake of sodium and saturated fat is the highest with 43% and 37% respectively at dinner, while added sugar is 23% only. In lunch the average percentage of sodium and saturated fat is between 25% and 30%, and added sugar is just below one-fourth.

To add further, the proportion of added sugar is the highest in snacks, at 42%, whilst sodium is nearly 14% and saturated fat is just above 20%. However, in breakfast, the percentage of taking all the three nutrients in a meal is from 14% to 16%, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main pattern accurately: dinner has the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar, and you include relevant figures such as 43%, 37% and 42%. The overview also notes breakfast’s low values. However, some comparisons are only broadly reported: lunch figures are given as a range rather than the exact values, and the added-sugar figure for lunch is not stated. The response is also two words below the 150-word minimum; the ten words copied from the task prompt are excluded from the count. To strengthen the report, include a few more precise comparisons and meet the required length.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs grouping the meal data. The progression from dinner and lunch to snacks and breakfast is easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “Overall” and “while” help signal comparisons. However, “To commence with” and “To add further” sound formulaic, and “However” introduces breakfast even though it does not express a clear contrast with the preceding point. The lunch discussion also moves quickly from a range to another meal without fully developing the comparison. Use simpler, more precise transitions and organise the details consistently by meal or by nutrient to make the progression more natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “intake,” “average percentage” and “respectively,” and the meaning remains clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “To commence with.” However, some expressions are unnatural or imprecise: “the percentage of taking all the three nutrients” and “added sugar is 23% only” do not sound idiomatic. Repetition of “intake,” “percentage” and “proportion” also limits flexibility. Prefer concise chart language such as “the share of” or “accounted for,” and use natural meal labels such as “at breakfast” and “in snacks.” More accurate collocations would improve precision without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a clear contrast in “while added sugar is 23% only” and a subordinate clause in the opening sentence. Most sentences communicate the intended comparisons, but some grammatical choices are awkward. For example, “In breakfast” should be “At breakfast,” and “the percentage of taking all the three nutrients” has an unclear grammatical structure; “the percentages for all three nutrients” would be more controlled. The phrase “is the highest with 43% and 37% respectively at dinner” also places the comparison awkwardly. Aim for clearer subject–verb patterns and check articles and prepositions. These issues do not prevent understanding, but more consistent accuracy and a wider range of well-controlled structures are needed.

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