Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-18

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 6.0)

The pie chart compares the average percentages of sodium, saturated fats, and added sugar in the meals eaten by the residents of the USA.

Overall, all these three nutrients are being consumed in dinner arge quantities. However, their percentages remained almost similar in breakfast. Sodium and saturated fats were consumed almost equally in lunch and snacks. Conversely, majority of people prefer added sugar in their snacks and lunch.

Firstly, 43% and 37% of average sodium and saturated fats have been consumed during dinner by the citizens. In contrast, the prorpotions of both the nutrients in other meals remained almost similar, with fats being 16%, 21%, and 26% in breakfast, snacks, and lunch respectively. Whereas 14% of sodium has been taken as snacks, 29% as lunch, and 14% in breakfast.

Secondly, approximately, 42% of added sugar is consumed in the form of snacks, while only 16% in breakfasts, and 19% during lunch. Lastly, dinner includes 23% of the added sugar by average.

In conclusion, it is evident that a large proportion us US residents consume sodium and and fats in their dinners, while added sugars as munching.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover all three nutrients and report the main pattern accurately: sodium and saturated fat peak at dinner (43% and 37%), while added sugar is highest in snacks (42%). The overview also identifies the broadly similar breakfast figures. This meets the task well, and the accurate detail supports the comparisons. To make the response more complete and precise, avoid unsupported claims about people’s preferences or how many residents consume these nutrients: the chart shows percentages of each nutrient across meals, not the proportion of people choosing them. The statement that sodium and saturated fats are consumed “almost equally” in lunch and snacks is also unclear, since their meal shares differ. A sharper overview comparing the contrasting dinner and snack peaks would strengthen the summary further.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, two detail paragraphs and a concluding sentence. Sequencing expressions such as “Firstly,” “Secondly” and “Lastly” help the reader follow the information, and the nutrient-by-nutrient grouping is generally understandable. However, these transitions feel somewhat mechanical, and the conclusion repeats the overview rather than adding a useful comparison. Some links between ideas are awkward: “Whereas 14% of sodium…” is not smoothly connected to the preceding sentence, and “Conversely” does not clearly signal the contrast intended. Improve progression by grouping the dinner and snack peaks together, then comparing the remaining meal shares, using clearer references and fewer formulaic signposts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportions,” “consumed,” “in contrast” and “includes,” so the chart is generally easy to understand. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing chart data: “dinner arge quantities,” “majority of people prefer,” and “added sugars as munching” do not express the figures precisely. “By average” and “in the form of snacks” are also awkward in this context. Spelling errors such as “prorpotions” and “arge” reduce control. Aim for precise terms such as “accounted for,” “share” and “meal,” and describe the distribution of nutrients rather than people’s preferences.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including contrast clauses with “while” and “whereas,” and most of the data remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. In “all these three nutrients are being consumed,” the phrasing and tense are not well suited to a general chart description; use a direct present-tense statement. “Their percentages remained” shifts unnecessarily into the past, while “43% and 37% of average sodium and saturated fats have been consumed” has an unclear grammatical relationship between the figures and nutrients. The final sentence also lacks a clear subject and parallel structure. Check agreement, tense consistency, and sentence completeness, especially when comparing percentages.

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

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