Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-13

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 average share of three types of nutrients, namely sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar, across typical meals consumed in USA. Overall, dinner was the main source of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snack constituted the largest share of added sugar.

Dinner accounted for the 43% of sodium, and 37% of saturated fat. This was followed by sodium, making 29% sodium and 26% saturated fat. Both snack and breakfast accounted for same share of sodium, while saturated fat made up 21% and 16% respectively.

On the contrary, snack made up almost half of the share, and accounted for 42% of added sugar. Dinner contributed 23% of total sugar, whereas lunch was responsible for 19% of total sugar. Finally, breakfast comprised 16% of added sugar. Thus, dinner was a reach meal for sodium and saturated fat nutrients; snack turned out to be major source of added sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You identify the main pattern accurately: dinner has the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. The figures you report are also consistent with the charts, including dinner’s 43% sodium and 37% saturated fat, and snacks’ 42% added sugar. You provide relevant comparisons across the meals and cover all three nutrients. However, some details are less clearly developed: “This was followed by sodium” mistakenly names the nutrient rather than lunch, making the comparison harder to follow, and the overview could more explicitly contrast the lowest shares. The final summary repeats the opening overview rather than adding a distinct insight. More precise comparisons and a clearer account of the secondary patterns would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs on sodium and saturated fat, then added sugar. This makes the information easy to locate. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or unclear. “This was followed by sodium” does not identify lunch as the next meal, and “On the contrary” suggests a contrast that is not quite the relationship between the preceding data and the added-sugar figures. The final sentence repeats the overview, so the ending feels redundant. Use more precise links between comparisons, and make each paragraph’s focus explicit—for example, group the meal with the second-highest shares before moving to the contrasting snack pattern.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “accounted for,” “contributed,” “comprised,” and “largest share,” and the nutrient names are generally handled clearly. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive, though. “Reach meal” appears to be an incorrect choice for describing a meal rich in nutrients, while “total sugar” is less precise than “added sugar,” the category shown in the chart. “Share” and “accounted for” recur frequently, and “main source” could be varied with more exact language such as “largest proportion.” Aim for natural collocations and retain the chart’s precise terminology throughout; this would make the description more fluent and precise without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the overview contrast introduced by “whereas” and the sentence beginning “while saturated fat…”. Most of the meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors are noticeable. In “consumed in USA,” the article is missing; “accounted for the 43%” uses an unnecessary article; and “Both snack and breakfast accounted for same share” also needs an article before “same share.” The sentence “This was followed by sodium, making 29% sodium…” has a faulty structure that obscures the comparison. Check articles and sentence construction, and ensure that the subject of each clause matches the information being described. Greater accuracy in these areas would improve control.

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