Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-29

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 illustrate mean percentage of three type of nutrients: sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in meals in the USA which are unhealthy if eaten in excess.

Overall, sodium and saturated fat is consumed in high amounts during dinner whereas added sugar is used in excess in snacks. All three nutrients are consumed the lowest during breakfast with the addition of snacks only in sodium.

About 43% of sodium is consumed when eating dinner whereas breakfast and snacks are at 14% making up the lowest average percentage. Second highest consumption of sodium is during lunch at 29%. Saturated fat highest average usage is in the meal of dinner at 37% whereas the lowest is at 16% in breakfast.

During lunch and snacks sodium is consumed for about 26% and 21% respectively. Furthermore, added sugar has different average percentages than that of sodium and saturated fat except its lowest consumption during breakfast at 16% whereas it has highest mean percentage in snacks at 42%. In contrast to sodium and saturated pie charts, added sugar depicts 23% and 19% in dinner and lunch respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the charts and makes relevant comparisons. You have clearly highlighted the key trends, such as the high consumption of sodium and saturated fat at dinner and the peak of added sugar in snacks. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the data. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, you mentioned sodium consumption at breakfast and snacks is 14%, but the chart shows breakfast at 14% and snacks at 21%. Precision in reporting data is essential for Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'furthermore', and 'in contrast to' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by grouping the nutrients more effectively to avoid jumping between them. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between the second and third body paragraphs could be smoother to better guide the reader through the comparative analysis.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'excess', 'consumption', and 'depicts'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'three type of nutrients' (should be 'types') and 'sodium and saturated pie charts' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'high' and 'low' (e.g., 'predominant', 'minimal', 'substantial') and ensure collocations are natural. The current range is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('sodium and saturated fat is consumed' should be 'are consumed') and minor punctuation or article errors. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, focus on ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement and refining the use of articles. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures, such as using more relative clauses or participle phrases, would also be beneficial.

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

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