Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-20

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)

The pie charts below illustrate the proportion of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in usual meals, consumed by the citizens of the USA. Furthermore, excessive intake of these nutrients can be hazardous for one's health.

Overall, these ingredients play a vital role in these meals. The quantity of these nutrients is highest in night meals; however, the amount of added sugars in the afternoon snacks share the largest percentage.

The volume of sodium in the morning meals and the snacks accounts for the same percentage that is 14%. The dinner represents the largest share of 43%. In the mid-day meals, sodium account for 29%.

The saturated fat and sugars in the breakfast share the same percentage which represents 16% of the total ratio. The amount of sugars dominates the other nutrients and accounts for 42% in the afternoon snacks. The minor sector is sugars in the lunch which represents 29% of the total proportion.

These nutrients are essential for any typical meal. Nevertheless, it can cause fatal diseases if they are taken in high amounts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the charts and provided relevant comparisons. You covered all three nutrients across the different meal types. However, your analysis is slightly hampered by some inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that sodium in morning meals and snacks is 14%, but the chart shows 14% for breakfast and 14% for snacks, which is correct; however, your description of the 'mid-day' meal (lunch) as 29% is accurate. The inclusion of personal commentary about health risks is unnecessary for an Academic Task 1, as the task requires an objective summary of the data provided. Focus more on grouping the data logically rather than listing figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'however', 'nevertheless', and 'furthermore' to link ideas. However, the transition between sentences can sometimes feel a bit mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally logical, moving from an overview to specific details about sodium, then to fats and sugars. To improve, ensure that your referencing is precise; for example, when you mention 'these ingredients', ensure the antecedent is clear. Overall, the structure is coherent and supports the task requirements effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'hazardous', 'excessive intake', and 'dominates'. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'usual meals' (typically 'typical meals') and 'share the largest percentage' (which is slightly redundant). You also use 'minor sector' to describe a percentage, which is not the most natural way to refer to data points. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, incorporating more precise academic collocations would elevate your score. Avoid repeating the same sentence structures when describing percentages.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'sodium account for 29%' (should be 'accounts') and 'if they are taken' (referring to nutrients, which is plural, but the phrasing is slightly awkward). Punctuation is generally handled well, though some sentences could be more fluid. You have a good grasp of basic grammar, but to reach a higher band, you should aim for more error-free complex sentences and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistently accurate throughout the response. The current level of control is sufficient for a band 6.0.

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

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