Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-27

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.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed in the USA

Student answer (Band 7.5)

The three pie charts illustrate the average percentages of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar contained in four types of meals consumed in the USA: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

Overall, dinner accounts for the largest proposition of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks contain the highest percentage of added sugar. Breakfast contributes the smallest or equal-smallest proportion of most nutrients.

Regarding sodium, dinner makes up the highest percentage at 43%, followed by lunch at 27%. Breakfast and snacks each account for 14%. A similar pattern can be seen for saturated fat. Dinner represents 37%, while lunch accounts for 26% and snacks for 21%. Breakfast has the lowest figure, at 16%.

In contrast, snacks are the main source of added sugar, at 42%, which is considerably higher than the figures for dinner and lunch at 23% and 19% respectively. Breakfast has the lowest proportion of added sugar, at 16%. Overall, dinner is the main contributor to sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks are the biggest source od added sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main features of the charts and provided relevant comparisons between the three nutrient types and the four meal categories. The overview is clear and highlights the key trends, such as dinner being the primary source of sodium and saturated fat, and snacks being the main source of added sugar. The data is accurately reported, and the comparisons are logical and well-supported by the figures provided. The response is well-structured and covers all requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introduction and overview to specific details about sodium/saturated fat and then added sugar. Cohesive devices such as 'Regarding', 'In contrast', and 'a similar pattern' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different categories of information, ensuring the text is easy to follow and coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data accurately. Terms like 'illustrate', 'accounts for', 'contributes', and 'proportion' are used correctly in context. There is a minor typographical error ('od' instead of 'of') in the final sentence, but this does not impede communication. The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic report. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a slightly wider range of synonyms for 'highest' or 'lowest' to avoid repetition, such as 'predominant' or 'minimal'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is accurate. The use of comparative structures ('considerably higher than', 'followed by') is well-handled. While the range of structures is sufficient, incorporating more varied complex sentence patterns could further enhance the quality. Overall, the grammar is strong, and there are no errors that cause any difficulty for the reader.

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

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