Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-19

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 charts illustrate the average percentages of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in typical meals consumed in the USA. All three types of nutrients may be unhealthy if eaten too much.

Overall, people consumed a large percentage of sodium and saturated fat in the dinner while added sugar was popular in the snack. Whereas, the percentages in the other typical meals were moderatly fluctuating.

Looking at the details, 43% sodium was consumed in the dinner which was highest recorded figure. 29% recorded for the lunch and 14% for the breakfast and snack.

The percentage of saturated fat in the dinner was 37%. 26% accounted for the lunch, 21% for the snack and 16% for the breakfast.

However, added sugar proportion was more in the snack at 42%. The figure for the dinner, lunch and breakfast was 23%, 19% and 16% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the subject accurately and report the key figures for all three nutrients, including the main contrasts: dinner is highest for sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. The figures you give match the chart. However, the overview is somewhat unclear in saying the other meals were “moderatly fluctuating,” and it does not clearly summarise the full pattern—for example, breakfast is the lowest or tied-lowest for each nutrient. The response is also 7 words below the required minimum, so it needs a little more development. Add a concise comparison across the three charts, rather than simply listing each meal’s values, to make the main features more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and separate detail sections for the nutrients. This makes the information easy to locate, and the figures are generally presented in a sensible order. Cohesion is less successful in places, however. “Whereas” begins a sentence fragment after the overview, and “However” at the start of the final paragraph suggests a contrast that is not clearly established. The repeated pattern of listing percentages also makes the progression somewhat mechanical. Link the comparisons more explicitly—for instance, contrast dinner’s high sodium and saturated-fat shares with the snack’s high added-sugar share—and ensure each linking word accurately reflects the relationship between ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “average percentages,” “proportion,” “accounted for,” and “recorded figure,” and the meaning is generally clear. However, some word choices and collocations are awkward or imprecise. “Consumed a large percentage … in the dinner” is not a natural way to describe the chart, while “added sugar was popular in the snack” gives a misleading impression of preference. “Moderatly fluctuating” is both misspelled and unsuitable for describing the figures, which are proportions rather than fluctuations. Aim for precise reporting language such as “accounted for the largest share” or “was highest in snacks.” More accurate collocations and spelling would make the description more fluent and controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mixture of simple sentences and some more complex forms, such as “which was highest recorded figure” and the opening contrast introduced by “Whereas.” Most of the data statements remain understandable, but some grammatical choices are inaccurate. “Whereas, the percentages…” is an incomplete clause, and “43% sodium was consumed in the dinner” has an awkward sentence structure and article use. In “which was highest recorded figure,” the superlative needs an article (“the highest recorded figure”). The response also relies heavily on short, similarly structured statements, so there is limited variety. Practise complete contrast clauses and use a wider range of accurate comparison structures, such as “while” and “compared with.”

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