Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-25

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 chart present the average proportions of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars, which may be harmful if consumed too much during breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in the USA.

Overall, dinner provides the highest amount of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks share the largest quantity of added sugar. Breakfast consistently represent the lowest percentages in all of them. Sodium and saturated fat follow a similar pattern.

Regarding sodium, dinner is the primary source of sodium, which represents the largest proportion at 43%. The second source is lunch shares 29%, while breakfast and snacks constitute the same and minimum proportion at 14%.

A similar pattern can be observed for saturated fat. Again dinner contributes the largest amount of saturated fat at 37%, second is lunch at 26%. Snacks shares more then in sodium at 21%, whereas breakfast records the lowest again at 16%.

Added sugar has different pattern from the other two nutrients. Snacks is the greatest source of added sugar represent 42%. Come next, dinner is the second largest percentage which make up at 23%. Then, lunch constitutes 19% and breakfast once again has the smallest share representing only 16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response selects the main features accurately and gives a clear overview: dinner has the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. It also identifies breakfast as the lowest category, which is correct for all three nutrients, and supports these points with relevant figures such as 43%, 37% and 42%. Comparisons between meals are generally well chosen, including the equal 14% shares for sodium at breakfast and snacks. This is a strong, well-supported account of the chart. To make the reporting more fully developed, compare the nutrient patterns across the charts more directly—for example, note that dinner’s share declines from sodium to added sugar, while the snack share rises sharply for added sugar.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The organisation is clear: an introduction is followed by an overview and then separate paragraphs on sodium, saturated fat and added sugar. This makes the information easy to locate, and transitions such as “A similar pattern” and “Added sugar has different pattern” help signal comparisons. The progression is logical, but cohesion is sometimes mechanical because each nutrient is treated in a similar, list-like sequence. Some sentence links are also awkward, as in “The second source is lunch shares 29%” and “Come next, dinner is the second largest percentage.” Use complete, smoothly linked comparisons and vary the paragraph structure—for instance, group the shared dinner-and-lunch pattern before contrasting the snack result for sugar.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is adequate vocabulary for describing proportions and comparisons, including “largest proportion,” “primary source,” “constitute” and “records the lowest.” The writer also distinguishes the different pattern for added sugar, which helps convey the chart’s main contrast. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive: “snacks share the largest quantity” is less natural than describing their share, and “more then in sodium” is unclear. “Amount” and “source” are also used where “percentage” or “meal” would be more precise for chart data. Greater control of collocations and a wider range of accurate comparison language would strengthen the description while keeping the vocabulary appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mix of simple and more complex structures, including the opening relative clause and comparisons introduced by “while” and “whereas.” Meaning is generally recoverable, but some errors occur in basic sentence construction and agreement. For example, “The pie chart present” needs a plural subject or singular verb, and “Breakfast consistently represent” has the same agreement problem. Several clauses are incomplete or joined incorrectly, as in “The second source is lunch shares 29%” and “Snacks is the greatest source of added sugar represent 42%.” There are also missing articles and awkward sentence boundaries. Practise building complete clauses with a clear subject and verb, then check agreement and punctuation.

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