Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-03

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 given pie charts show different standard proportions of three nutrients in all of the meals throughout the day and any of these could be harmful if taken in excess.

Overall, dinner has the highest percentage of sodium and snack consists of highest percentage of added sugar. While, breakfast contains all of the given nutrients in almost same quantity and same goes for lunch.

To begin with, the main portion of meal is comprised of sodium as 43% and least added sugar as 23% along with saturated fat as 37%. Conversly, snack has highest the percentage of added sugar as 42% and rest of the nutrients as 14% and 21% (sodium and saturated fat respectively).

Additionally, sodium is also present in high quantity in lunch and its percentage is 29%, while saturated fat and added sugar in 26% and 19% respectively. On the other hand, saturated fat and sugar are in equal proportions (16%) in breakfast and sodium accounts for the least percentile as 14%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You identify the main contrasts accurately: dinner has the largest shares of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks lead in added sugar. Most figures are also reported correctly, including dinner’s 43% sodium and snacks’ 42% added sugar. However, the overview says breakfast contains the nutrients in “almost same quantity” and that the same applies to lunch, which is too broad: lunch values range from 19% to 29%, and dinner’s saturated fat is not mentioned in the overview. The body does cover the figures, but the comparison of breakfast and lunch could be more precise and the key pattern across all three nutrients clearer. Overall, the response addresses the task and selects relevant data, though some generalisations weaken the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall shape, moving from an introduction and overview to details about dinner, snacks, lunch and breakfast. This makes the information easy to follow, and linking phrases such as “To begin with,” “Additionally” and “On the other hand” help signal progression. However, the organisation is not fully efficient: the overview’s claim that breakfast and lunch are similar is not clearly supported, and the body groups information by meal without consistently making the comparisons explicit. “While,” at the start of the overview’s second sentence, also creates an awkward connection. To strengthen progression, organise the details around the main patterns—for example, dinner and snacks as contrasting peaks, followed by lunch and breakfast—and use references that clearly identify each meal.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportions,” “comprised of,” “accounts for” and “in excess,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are, however, several imprecise or unnatural choices that limit flexibility. “Main portion of meal” is unclear when referring to dinner’s nutrient percentages, while “highest the percentage” has an awkward word order and “least percentile” is not the right expression for the smallest share. “Standard proportions” is also less natural than language such as “average shares.” The spelling error “Conversly” and the phrase “same quantity” further reduce accuracy. Aim for precise chart language and natural collocations, such as “share,” “proportion” and “accounted for,” rather than forcing less familiar expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including a complex opening sentence and comparisons using “while” and “on the other hand.” Most of the data remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and punctuation problems are present. For example, “While, breakfast contains…” incorrectly places a comma after the subordinating conjunction, and “snack has highest the percentage” has a faulty article and word order. In “saturated fat and added sugar in 26% and 19% respectively,” the sentence lacks a verb, while “saturated fat and sugar are in equal proportions (16%)” would be clearer with a more complete comparison structure. Work on articles, complete clauses and punctuation around linking words; these corrections would make your varied sentence forms more controlled.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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