Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 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.
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 compare the percentage of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar in the average American diet consumed during breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
Overall, dinner is the main source of sodium and saturated fat intake, while snacks contribute the most to added sugar consumption. Breakfast accounts for the smallest proportion across all three categories.
Looking at sodium and saturated fat, dinner is dominant. It accounts for 43% of sodium and 37% of saturated fat consumed. Lunch is the second largest contributor, making up 29% of sodium and 26% of saturated fat. In contrast, breakfast and snacks each contribute only 14% of sodium. For saturated fat, breakfast and snacks are also relatively low at 16% and 21% respectively.
In terms of added sugar, the pattern is very different. Snacks represent the largest share at 42%, followed by dinner at 23%. Lunch and breakfast are similar, at 19% and 16% respectively.
In summary, while dinner is the primary source of sodium and saturated fat, added sugar is mainly consumed through snacks. Breakfast consistently represents the lowest intake for all three nutrients.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The student has successfully covered all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the three pie charts regarding sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in the American diet. An overview is clearly presented in the second paragraph, highlighting the key contrasts between dinner and snacks. The response makes relevant comparisons across meals, such as noting that 'dinner is the main source of sodium and saturated fat intake, while snacks contribute the most to added sugar consumption.' Data is accurately selected and cited to support the descriptions, such as '43% of sodium and 37% of saturated fat,' demonstrating a fully developed response that meets all requirements of Task 1 effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The text is logically organised with a clear progression from the introduction to the overview, followed by detailed body paragraphs and a concluding summary. Paragraphing is used appropriately and effectively, with each meal category or nutrient group receiving dedicated attention. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'Looking at sodium and saturated fat,' 'In contrast,' and 'In terms of added sugar' are managed well to guide the reader smoothly through the comparisons without being intrusive or mechanical.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms related to data reporting and nutrition, such as 'proportion,' 'contributor,' 'intake,' 'category,' and 'consumption.' Collocations and phrasing are natural, as seen in expressions like 'second largest contributor' and 'primary source of sodium.' While the vocabulary is largely standard rather than highly sophisticated, it is used accurately and flexibly enough to convey precise meanings clearly, supporting fluent communication throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The writing exhibits a good variety of sentence structures, mixing simple and complex forms seamlessly. The majority of sentences are error-free, showing sound control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of complex structures include 'While dinner is the primary source of sodium and saturated fat, added sugar is mainly consumed through snacks.' There are only very occasional minor slips, but these do not impede communication at all, reflecting strong grammatical accuracy across the entire text.
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