Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-17
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 pie charts given beneath illustrate the average percentage of sodium,saturated fat and added sugar consumed in four different meals of USA.
Overall, dinner accounts for the highest percentages of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks contain the largest share of added sugar. Across all three nutrients, breakfast consistently contributes the lowest proportion.
Sodium and saturated fat share a very similar distribution pattern across meals. Dinner is the main source for both, contributing 43% of daily sodium and 37% of saturated fat. Lunch is the second largest contributor, making up 29% of sodium and 26% of saturated fat intake. Snacks account for 21% of saturated fat and 14% of sodium, while breakfast supplies the remaining 14% of sodium and 16% of saturated fat.
In contrast, added sugar follows a noticeably different trend. Snacks are by far the largest source, accounting for 42%—nearly double the share of any single meal. Dinner represents the second largest share at 23%, followed closely by lunch at 19%. Breakfast makes up the smallest proportion at 16%.
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 covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and successfully reporting the main features of the charts. Key comparisons are made between the three nutrients across the four meals. For example, the student correctly highlights that dinner accounts for the highest percentages of sodium and saturated fat (43% and 37% respectively), while snacks contain the largest share of added sugar (42%). The figures are accurately cited from the visual data, and the information is well-selected without unnecessary listing of every minor detail. The response fully satisfies the requirements for Task Achievement at a high level, demonstrating a clear understanding of the visual data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
Information and ideas are logically sequenced throughout the response, ensuring a smooth and clear progression from the introduction to the overview and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used effectively and appropriately, with each body paragraph dedicated to grouping related nutrient categories ('Sodium and saturated fat share a very similar distribution pattern...' and 'In contrast, added sugar follows a noticeably different trend'). Cohesive devices are managed well without being intrusive, and referencing phrases like 'In contrast' and 'Across all three nutrients' help guide the reader seamlessly through the comparisons. The organizational structure supports clear communication.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to Task 1 requirements, incorporating appropriate terms such as 'proportion', 'distribution pattern', 'contributor', and 'minority/majority concepts'. Less common lexical items are used with some awareness of style and collocation, as seen in expressions like 'accounts for the highest percentages', 'consistently contributes', and 'narrowly followed by'. There are only minor lexical slips, such as writing 'meals of USA' instead of 'meals in the USA', but these do not impede communication and reflect an adequate-to-good lexical resource overall.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response features a good variety of complex sentence structures used accurately. Examples include participial and adverbial clauses such as 'whereas snacks contain the largest share of added sugar' and 'making up 29% of sodium'. The majority of sentences are error-free, with good control over grammar and punctuation. While there is a minor preposition slip in the opening sentence ('meals of USA' instead of 'meals in the USA'), overall syntactic control is strong, with confident handling of comparative structures and data reporting verbs.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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