Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-14

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 compare the average percentages of three nutrients, namely sodium, saturated fat and added sugar, in typical meals in the USA.

Overall, dinner accounts for the highest proportions of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks contain the highest proportion of added sugar. Breakfast generally has the lowest proportions of these three nutrients, although sodium accounts for the same percentage in both breakfast and snacks, at 14%.

Sodium accounted for 43% at dinner, the highest proportion among the four meals. Moreover, the proportions of sodium were 29%, 14% and 14% at lunch, breakfast and in snacks, respectively. The figures for saturated fat were 37% at dinner, 26% at lunch, 16% at breakfast and 21% in snacks.

Snacks had the highest proportion of added sugar, at 42%. Dinner accounted for 23%, while the figures for lunch and breakfast were 19% and 16%, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully identifies and reports the main features of the charts, providing a clear overview comparing the nutrients across typical meals in the USA. Key data points, such as the highest and lowest percentages for sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar, are accurately selected and compared (e.g., 'Sodium accounted for 43% at dinner' and 'Snacks had the highest proportion of added sugar, at 42%'). However, the response falls slightly short of the required word count, containing 143 words rather than the minimum 150 words. This minor negative constraint violation prevents the task achievement score from reaching higher bands, despite the clear and accurate reporting of information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is well-organized with a clear overall progression. The information is logically divided into paragraphs, starting with a clear introductory paraphrase, followed by an overarching summary in the second paragraph, and detailed breakdown paragraphs for the respective nutrients. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data, such as 'Overall', 'while', 'Moreover', and 'respectively'. Referencing and substitution are handled smoothly without being repetitive or mechanical, ensuring that relationships between the different meals and nutrients remain easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task, utilizing terms like 'proportions', 'accounts for', and 'respectively'. Word choices are generally precise and relevant to describing statistical charts. Although the vocabulary is mostly standard rather than highly sophisticated, it allows for clear and natural expression of the data. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, enabling the reader to process the information without any difficulty.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student displays a good variety of sentence structures, mixing simple and complex forms effectively (e.g., 'Overall, dinner accounts for the highest proportions of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks contain the highest proportion of added sugar.'). The majority of sentences are grammatically accurate, with reliable control over tense consistency and punctuation. While there is no extensive deployment of highly complex grammatical structures, the writing demonstrates clear control over the structures attempted, with no errors that impede communication.

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

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