Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-23

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 given pie charts illustrate the proportions of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals in the USA, all of which might be unhealthy if consumed too much.

Overall, sodium accounted for the highest percentage among all three nutrients in dinner while sugar contributed in the same proportion for snacks. In addition, all three nutrients showed amost equal percentage points in breakfast.

In dinner, 43% of the people consumed sodium, which is the highest percentage points across all nurtrients and meals. Followed by saturated fats and sugar with 37% and 23% respectively. Conversely, during snack time, 42% of the people ate added sugars while saturated fat and sodium observed the figures of 21% and 12% respectively.

In lunch, sodium and saturated fats accounted for almost equal consumption levels with 29% and 26% respectively. However, added sugars experienced a slight drop as compared to other nutrients, to record percentage points of 19%. Furthermore, all three nutrients contributed equally in breakfast.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all parts of the prompt by presenting an overview and reporting the key features and comparisons of the three charts. The overview correctly identifies overarching trends, such as sodium peaking at dinner and added sugars peaking during snacks, while noting breakfast similarities. Data points are generally well-selected and reported accurately, such as 43% for sodium at dinner and 42% for added sugars during snack time. However, there is a minor data inaccuracy in the body paragraph regarding sodium for snacks, where the student states 12% instead of the actual 14%. Additionally, phrasing like '43% of the people consumed sodium' misinterprets nutrient proportions in meals as the percentage of the population. Despite this minor misinterpretation and data slip, the main features are clearly reported and well-supported, earning a solid Band 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged logically into four paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the specific meal data. Information flows reasonably well from the introduction to the general trends and then into specific meal breakdowns. Cohesive devices are used to link ideas, such as 'Conversely', 'However', and 'Furthermore'. However, paragraphing could be structured more effectively, as the overview paragraph is quite brief and could be better integrated or expanded. Referencing is occasionally slightly repetitive or mechanical, but overall progression remains clear throughout, making this a clear Band 6.5 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range appropriate for Task 1, successfully utilizing terms like 'proportions', 'nutrients', 'respectively', and 'Conversely'. There are some successful attempts to use less common vocabulary, but word choices occasionally lack precision or natural collocation. For instance, writing that nutrients 'observed the figures of' rather than 'stood at' or 'accounted for' sounds unnatural. Furthermore, there are minor lexical inaccuracies, such as misspelling 'almost' as 'amost' and incorrectly stating that nutrients were 'consumed' by people rather than contained in meals. Despite these occasional slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message clearly, fitting the Band 6 descriptor well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over structure. The student attempts complex multi-clause sentences, such as 'Conversely, during snack time, 42% of the people ate added sugars while saturated fat and sodium observed the figures of 21% and 12% respectively.' However, control over grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several minor errors, including a sentence fragment ('Followed by saturated fats and sugar with 37% and 23% respectively.') and preposition or article inaccuracies (e.g., 'consumed too much' instead of 'consumed in excess'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors are present, they do not impede communication, supporting a Band 6.0 score.

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

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