Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-12

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.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

This graph depicts the proportion of three potentially unhealthy nutrients (sodium, saturated fats and added sugars) consumed across four distinct meal times in the USA.

Overall, dinner accounts for most percentage of both sodium and saturated fat. However, snacks contribute for the largest proportion of added sugar. Conversely, breakfast consistently records lowest percentages across all three categories.

Looking closely at sodium and saturated fats dinner is primary source accounting for 43% and 37% respectively. Lunch contributes 29% for sodium and 26% for saturated fats. Percentage of saturated fat in snacks is 21% which is relatively high as compared to sodium where it contributes only 14%. Among the both breakfast is small source of sodium and saturated fat.

In terms of added sugar, snacks are leading source making up 42% of total consumption. 2nd major factor is dinner constituting 23% followed by lunch consisting 19%. Like other nutrients, breakfast has least proportion that is 16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task. You have identified the main features and provided relevant comparisons, such as noting that dinner is the primary source for sodium and saturated fats, while snacks lead in added sugar. The overview is clear and highlights the key trends effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are presented with complete accuracy; for instance, you mentioned breakfast records the 'lowest percentages' for all three, which is accurate. The report is well-structured and covers the requirements of the prompt comprehensively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Conversely', and 'In terms of' to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different nutrient categories. While the flow is generally good, some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion. For example, the link between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Terms like 'proportion', 'constituting', and 'consumption' are used appropriately. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and repetitive phrasing, such as 'small source' and 'leading source'. To improve, try to vary your verbs and adjectives to describe the data more precisely. For instance, instead of 'small source', you could use 'minimal contributor'. The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but incorporating more precise academic collocations would elevate the response to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'dinner accounts for most percentage' (should be 'the highest percentage') and 'Among the both breakfast is small source' (missing articles and awkward phrasing). Additionally, 'snacks contribute for' is an incorrect collocation; it should be 'snacks contribute to'. Despite these errors, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on article usage and prepositional accuracy to ensure your sentences are more polished and error-free.

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

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