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 makes up the largest percentage.

The volume of sodium in the morning meals and the snacks accounts for the same percentage, which is 14%. The dinner represents the largest share of 43%. In the mid-day meals, sodium accounts 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, they can cause fatal diseases if they are taken in high amounts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying key trends such as the high sodium content in dinner and the high sugar content in snacks. However, the analysis is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. While you mention that these nutrients are 'essential,' the prompt specifically asks to report on the percentages of nutrients in typical meals, and your commentary on health risks is extraneous to the task requirements. To improve, focus more on comparing the data points across the three charts rather than listing individual percentages in isolation. The overview is present but could be more clearly integrated to highlight the most significant differences between the nutrient profiles.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'however,' 'nevertheless,' and 'furthermore,' though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from an overview to specific details about sodium, then fat and sugar. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid and that you avoid repetitive sentence structures. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the final paragraph and the data analysis could be tighter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion,' 'hazardous,' 'excessive intake,' and 'dominates.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'night meals' is not standard; 'dinner' or 'evening meals' would be more appropriate. Additionally, 'total ratio' is not the best fit for describing percentages in a pie chart. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of reporting verbs and comparative adjectives would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'the dinner represents the largest share of 43%,' where the article 'the' is unnecessary. Another example is 'if they are taken in high amounts,' which is grammatically acceptable but could be more naturally phrased as 'if consumed in large quantities.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as participial phrases or relative clauses, to enhance the flow and sophistication of your writing.

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

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