Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-01

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 8.5)

The three pie charts illustrate the average proportions of sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars in four daily meals—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks—consumed in the United States. All of these nutrients can be harmful if taken in excessive amounts.

Overall, dinner contributes the largest share of sodium and saturated fats, whereas snacks are the dominant source of added sugars. By contrast, breakfast consistently accounts for the smallest proportions across all three nutrients.

Looking first at sodium, dinner is the most sodium-heavy meal, making up 43% of daily intake. Lunch is the second highest contributor at 29%, while both breakfast and snacks account for considerably smaller shares of 14% each. A broadly similar pattern is evident in the case of saturated fats: dinner again ranks first, at 37%, followed by lunch with 26%. Breakfast and snacks contribute lower amounts, at 21% and 16%, respectively.

In contrast, the distribution of added sugars differs significantly. Snacks emerge as the major source, representing 42% of the total daily intake. Dinner and lunch contribute far less, at 23% and 19%, while breakfast has the lowest figure, at just 16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. It clearly identifies the main features of the charts and provides relevant comparisons throughout. The overview paragraph effectively highlights the key trends, such as dinner being the primary source of sodium and saturated fats, while snacks dominate added sugar intake. The data is accurately reported, and the comparisons between the three nutrients are well-integrated. The response covers all parts of the prompt comprehensively, ensuring the reader understands the key differences and similarities between the meal categories without unnecessary detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two well-structured body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving logically from sodium to saturated fats and then to added sugars. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Looking first at', 'A broadly similar pattern', and 'In contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different categories of nutrients, making the information easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The vocabulary is precise, natural, and well-suited to an academic report. The student uses a variety of topic-specific terms such as 'proportions', 'dominant source', 'intake', and 'distribution' with high accuracy. The use of collocations like 'sodium-heavy meal' and 'consistently accounts for' demonstrates a sophisticated control of language. There are no spelling or word-choice errors, and the range of vocabulary is more than sufficient to convey the information clearly and fluently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied clause types. The control over punctuation and sentence construction is excellent, with no grammatical errors noted. The use of comparative structures ('the largest share', 'the second highest contributor', 'far less') is accurate and contributes to the clarity of the report. The writing is error-free, demonstrating a high level of grammatical flexibility and precision throughout the text.

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