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 charts compares the percentages of three kinds of nutrients (Sodium,Saturated fat, added sugar) used in regular meals in the USA.

Overal, dinner and lunch contain the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while breakfast and snack consume relatively small amounts of these two nutrients. Also, added sugar is majorly usd in sanck.

The figures for sodium and saturated fat in meals show parity, as the largest share of both ingredients are used in dinner (43% of Sodium, and 37% of saturated fat. Lunch comes secnond, comprsing 29% of sodium, and 26% of saturated fat. The share of sodium use in snack and breakfast are similar at 14% while the share of saturated fat consumed in snack and breakfast are 21% and 16% respectively.

Conversely, a large amount of added sugar is used in snack (at 42%). Almost a quarter of added sugar is used in dinner (23%). Lunch and breakfast show the lowest figures, consuming 19% and 16% of added sugar respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response selects the main patterns accurately: dinner has the highest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks account for the largest proportion of added sugar. The figures quoted—such as 43% and 37% at dinner, and 42% for snack sugar—match the charts, and the overview gives a clear summary of the key contrast. Comparisons across meals are also supported with relevant data. To make the report more fully developed, avoid broad or imprecise claims such as “breakfast and snack consume relatively small amounts” without clarifying that this applies to sodium and saturated fat, not added sugar. The opening could also identify that the figures are percentages of each nutrient in typical meals, rather than nutrients being “used” in meals.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph comparing sodium with saturated fat, and a final paragraph on added sugar. This makes the main contrasts easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “Also” and “Conversely” help signal relationships. However, cohesion is not always smooth. The overview’s “Also” introduces a point that is more clearly a contrast, and “The figures … show parity” is not quite accurate because the meal percentages for the two nutrients differ. Some sentences also carry several figures and comparisons at once, making them less fluent. Use more precise transitions and organise comparisons consistently by meal or nutrient to strengthen the progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is an adequate range for describing chart data, including “largest share,” “relatively small amounts,” “Conversely,” and “lowest figures.” These choices help communicate comparisons, and the meaning remains clear despite some inaccurate or awkward wording. However, spelling errors such as “Overal,” “usd,” “sanck,” “secnond,” and “comprsing” reduce accuracy. Some collocations are also imprecise: nutrients are not naturally described as being “used” in meals, and “show parity” suggests equality even though the percentages differ. Aim for standard chart-reporting language and proofread carefully. More precise verbs such as “account for” and “represent” would make the descriptions more natural and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the overview clause beginning “while” and the contrast introduced by “Conversely.” Most relationships between the figures are understandable, and the writer attempts to combine comparisons within sentences. Some grammatical errors remain, however. The opening has a subject–verb agreement error: “The pie charts compares” should be “The pie charts compare.” In “the largest share … are used,” the singular subject requires “is,” while “The share … are similar” also has a number-agreement problem. The sentence ending “37% of saturated fat.” is punctuated as a fragment after an opening parenthesis. Check agreement and sentence boundaries, while continuing to use varied structures.

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