Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-08

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 illustrate the percentages of three different nutrients- Sodium, Saturated fat, Added sugar, which are presented in typical meals consumed in the USA.

Overall, Dinner contributes the higher amount of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks accounts the higher contribution for added sugar intake. Conversely, breakfast consistently yields a lower percentage for all the nutrients.

Dinner represented as the largest source for sodium intake at 43%, folllowed by lunch at 29%. Snacks and breakfast accounts a equal and small amount of sodium which is at 14%. Similarly, dinner takes a dominating place in saturated fat intake at 37% and lunch contributing around 26%, with snacks comprising 21% and breakfast remaining at 16%.

In contrast, the added sugar consumption show a different distribution. Snacks dominates this category, accounts for 42%of total added sugar intake, followed with dinner at 23%, while lunch contributing around 19% and at last breakfast still remain the same at 16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response selects the main patterns accurately: dinner has the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. It also supports these comparisons with relevant figures, including 43% and 37% for dinner and 42% for snacks. The overview’s point that breakfast is consistently low is broadly supported, although it is not the lowest for added sugar because breakfast and lunch are 16% and 19%, respectively. The report covers all three nutrients and makes useful comparisons, but some details could be expressed more precisely—for example, explicitly noting that snacks and breakfast tie for the lowest sodium share. A sharper overview distinguishing the different meal patterns would make the key features more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The four-paragraph structure is appropriate: an introduction, an overview, and separate detail paragraphs for sodium/saturated fat and added sugar. The contrast marker “In contrast” clearly signals the shift to the different added-sugar pattern, and the figures generally appear in a logical order. This gives the report a coherent overall arrangement. However, some linking is mechanical or awkward, particularly the repeated use of “at” and “while” in the detail sentences, and the final paragraph’s sequence “followed with … while … and at last” is not smoothly controlled. Improve progression by grouping comparisons consistently and using concise links such as “followed by” or “whereas,” while ensuring each sentence has a clear grammatical connection between its figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “contributes,” “intake,” “distribution,” and “source,” and the meaning remains clear. It also attempts more formal reporting language, such as “dominant” and “represented.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “snacks accounts,” “takes a dominating place,” and “accounts for 42%of” weaken precision and collocation. “Higher amount” is also less suitable for percentages than “largest share.” There are spelling and spacing slips, including “folllowed” and “42%of.” Aim for natural chart-reporting phrases and check spelling and spacing carefully; this would make the vocabulary more precise without requiring unnecessarily elaborate wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

There is a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the overview’s contrast between dinner and snacks and the sentence beginning “In contrast.” Most relationships between the data are understandable, and errors rarely prevent communication. Some grammatical problems remain, especially subject–verb agreement: “snacks accounts” and “the added sugar consumption show” should use singular/plural forms consistently. The phrase “breakfast consistently yields a lower percentage” also overstates the comparison, though the main grammatical issue is the construction around it. Articles and sentence patterns need attention in “Snacks and breakfast accounts a equal and small amount,” which requires both agreement and an article adjustment. Practise checking each clause for its subject and verb, and vary sentence structures while keeping them accurate.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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