Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-20

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 give information about the proportion of sodium, saturated fat, and sugar in typical meals consumed by USA people. All of these nutrients may be unhealthly if it is consumed excessively.

Overall, all three types of nutrients are most consumed in dinner except sugar which is eaten mostly in snacks. And all these items least consumed in breakfast.

About 43% sodium is consumed in dinner, while it is less eaten in breakfast and snack, about 14% in both meals. And the second maximum usage of sodium is in lunch, about 29%. In contrast, maximum sugar is consumed by snack, about 42%. Compare to sodium, sugar also less used in breakfast items, only 16%. While it is used about 23% in dinner, and 19% in lunch.

Saturated fat, about 37% consumed in dinner which is the most usage of this nutrient. For lunch and snack it is used approximately same rate, 26% and 21% respectively. Also it is less eaten in breakfast time, only 16%.

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 account for the most added sugar. The overview also notes breakfast’s generally low contribution, and the body includes relevant figures such as sodium at 43% for dinner and added sugar at 42% for snacks. These comparisons show clear coverage of the charts and support the key features. To make the report more fully developed, clarify that breakfast is not the lowest meal for every nutrient: for added sugar, breakfast and lunch are both below dinner but breakfast is lower, while for saturated fat snacks are lower than breakfast? In fact, breakfast is lowest at 16%. Avoid broad wording such as “all these items least consumed in breakfast” when the pattern differs for added sugar, and state comparisons more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a summary of the main trends, and separate discussion of sodium/sugar and saturated fat. This makes the information easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In contrast,” and “while” help signal comparisons, and the figures are generally grouped sensibly. However, some connections feel mechanical or incomplete, particularly the repeated “And” at the start of sentences and the fragment-like “While it is used about 23% in dinner, and 19% in lunch.” The comparison between nutrients could also be organised more consistently, for example by discussing each meal across all three charts or by keeping each nutrient in a clearly parallel paragraph. Clearer sentence links and reference would make progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “consumed,” “maximum,” and “approximately,” and the reader can understand the comparisons. However, the range is limited by repeated, imprecise phrases such as “used,” “eaten,” and “usage,” which are not always natural for describing nutrient percentages. Some word choices and forms are inaccurate, including “unhealthly,” “USA people,” and “second maximum usage.” “Sugar” also omits the chart’s more specific category, added sugar. Aim for precise reporting language and vary it with terms such as “accounted for,” “share,” and “contribution.” More accurate collocations would make the description sound more fluent and appropriately academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons with “while” and “in contrast,” and the main information remains understandable. However, some grammatical errors recur. For example, “All of these nutrients … if it is consumed” has a plural subject followed by a singular pronoun, and “About 43% sodium is consumed” needs a grammatical link between the percentage and the nutrient. The sentence beginning “While it is used…” is not a complete independent sentence, and “For lunch and snack it is used…” has unclear number and sentence structure. Work on articles, agreement, and complete clauses, while retaining your comparison structures. More consistently accurate sentence patterns would improve control.

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