Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The pie charts provide the average proportions of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar—all of which are harmful if consumed excessively—during meals in the USA.

Overall, sodium and saturated fat have the highest consumption in dinner, while added sugar contributes the highest share in snacks. The lowest margin of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in the breakfast.

For sodium, dinner accounts for 43% as compared to lunch with 29%. The snacks and breakfast joint has the lowest figures with 14%. As for saturated fat, dinner has the largest share with 37%, followed by lunch with 26%. The consumption of saturated fat in snacks is just below a quarter. Breakfast has the lowest proportion at 16%.

In terms of added sugar, snacks constitute the largest share with 42%. The dinner making up 23% to retain second rank. Lunch consistently accounts for 19% and is in third place. Breakfast has contributed the lowest share with 16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the charts and provided relevant comparisons. The overview clearly highlights the key trends, such as dinner being the primary source for sodium and saturated fat, while snacks dominate added sugar intake. You have included data to support your points, which is essential for Task 1. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are fully developed; for example, when mentioning that snacks and breakfast have the lowest figures for sodium, you could explicitly contrast this with the dinner figure to strengthen the analytical aspect of your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific nutrients. You use cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'As for', and 'followed by' to guide the reader through the data. However, there are some minor issues with flow and phrasing, such as 'The snacks and breakfast joint has the lowest figures', which sounds slightly unnatural. Improving the variety of linking phrases and ensuring that each sentence flows smoothly into the next would enhance the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Terms like 'proportions', 'consumed excessively', and 'constitute' are used appropriately. There are some minor awkward phrasings, such as 'The dinner making up 23% to retain second rank', which could be more naturally expressed. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise academic collocations would elevate the quality of your writing. Overall, your word choice is accurate and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'The lowest margin of sodium... in the breakfast', which lacks a verb, and 'Breakfast has contributed the lowest share', where the tense choice is slightly inconsistent with the rest of the report. Most sentences are error-free, but a greater variety of complex structures and more consistent control over verb tenses would help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.