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 show the proportions of average percentage of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals in the USA.

Overall, sodium and saturated fat are mostly consumed for dinner and lunch, whereas added sugar appears to be mostly taken as a snack.

Sodium and saturated fat account for approximately same results among different food intakes. For both nutrients dinner sets the largest proportion with 43% for sodium and 37% for fat. For the lunch meal, sodium and fat account for 29% and 26% respectively, however numbers for other meals show different trend. Snack and breakfast make the smallest proportion of consumed sodium, taking equel number of 14%. By comparison, consumption of fat as a breakfast appears to be more frequent, taking 21%. The smallest percentage for fat is 16%, which stands for breakfast.

Snack meal accounted for the highest proportion of 42% for added sugar, followed by 23% in dinner meal and 19% for lunch. The smallest percentage belongs to breakfast, with only 16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You identify the main contrast accurately: dinner has the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead for added sugar. The key figures you report for dinner and lunch are correct, and you include comparisons across meal types. However, one important detail is misreported: saturated fat at breakfast is 16%, not 21%; 21% is the snack figure. The statement that breakfast is the smallest share for fat is correct, but the preceding comparison contradicts it. Your overview is clear, though “sodium and saturated fat are mostly consumed for dinner and lunch” could be more precise by noting dinner is highest for both. Overall, the task is addressed and supported with relevant data, with a tendency to generalise and one inaccurate figure.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph comparing sodium and saturated fat, and a final paragraph on added sugar. This gives the reader a logical route through the charts. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “For both nutrients,” “By comparison,” and “followed by” help signal relationships. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or unclear. In “however numbers for other meals show different trend,” the contrast is not fully explained, and “By comparison” introduces a sentence that conflicts with the earlier breakfast figure. The final paragraph is relevant but could connect more explicitly to the overview. To strengthen progression, group the meal patterns consistently and use clearer references when comparing the three nutrients.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of chart-reporting vocabulary, including “proportions,” “account for,” “largest proportion,” and “followed by.” These choices make the main comparisons understandable. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, however: “average percentage of” would be more naturally expressed as “average proportions,” and “sets the largest proportion” is not idiomatic for a chart. “Food intakes” and “snack meal” are also imprecise, while “equ el” (intended as “equal”) is misspelled. Repetition of “percentage,” “proportion,” and “consumed” limits flexibility. Aim for precise, natural reporting phrases such as “the share of sodium,” “accounted for,” and “the lowest figure,” while checking spelling and avoiding unnecessary wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast clause “whereas added sugar appears to be mostly taken as a snack” and the comparison beginning “For both nutrients…”. Most sentences remain understandable, and errors rarely obscure the intended meaning. Some grammatical inaccuracies are present: “the proportions of average percentage” has an awkward noun structure; “approximately same results” is missing an article; and “numbers for other meals show different trend” needs an article and clearer grammatical framing. The sentence about breakfast and saturated fat also has a confusing structure, although the incorrect figure itself is a data issue rather than a grammar error. Work on articles, plural forms, and constructing comparisons cleanly, while retaining the range of sentence patterns you already attempt.

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