Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-25
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 compare the average percentages of three different nutrients in four types of meals in the USA that are considered unhealthy if consumed in excessive amounts.
Overall, Sodium and Saturated fats are for the highest ratio in dinner, whereas snacks contain the largest amount of added sugar. In contrast, sodium in snacks and breakfast showed the the lowest proportion.
Looking at sodium and saturated fats in detail, dinner account for the largest proportion of sodium and saturated fats at 43% and 37% respectively, lunch also contains a substantial percentage making 29% of sodium and 26% of saturated fats. In contrast, breakfast and snacks contributed the least, each accounting for 14% in sodium and 21% saturated fat in snacks and 16% in breakfast.
Turning to added sugar, a completely different pattern is visible. Snack contains 42% of added sugar, whereas dinner accountes for only 23%. Meanwhile, lunch contributed 19% of it. The lowest percentage of added sugar was seen in breakfast at 16% only.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The response successfully covers all parts of the task by selecting, reporting, and comparing the main features of the visual data. The student provides a clear overview highlighting that dinner and snacks are the primary sources for these unhealthy nutrients. Key data points are accurately cited, such as dinner accounting for 43% of sodium and snacks representing 42% of added sugar. Comparisons between categories are made appropriately throughout the body paragraphs. Minor details are omitted, which is entirely appropriate for an overview task, and all figures match the source material accurately. The response meets all requirements for a strong band score in this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into four paragraphs, beginning with a clear introduction and overview, followed by well-sequenced body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well to guide the reader through the data, with phrases like 'Looking at sodium and saturated fats in detail' and 'Turning to added sugar'. However, there are some minor mechanical issues with cohesion, such as repetitive sentence structures and a slight lack of fluid progression in the third paragraph where percentages are listed. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately overall.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task 1 response, using terms such as 'proportion', 'substantial percentage', and 'pattern'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with varying degrees of success. There are some lexical inaccuracies and awkward collocations, such as 'Sodium and Saturated fats are for the highest ratio' instead of 'account for', and 'Dinner accountes' containing a spelling error. Despite these occasional errors, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly and effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over grammar. However, there are several grammatical errors and typos throughout the text, such as 'showed the the lowest proportion', 'dinner account', and '21% saturated fat in snacks and 16% in breakfast' which suffer from parallel structure issues. Additionally, 'Snack contains' lacks a plural or article. These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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