Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-18
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 average percentages of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals in the USA, which are breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
Overall, dinner contains the highest percentage of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks contain the most added sugar. Breakfast contributes the smallest amount of all three nutrients.
For sodium, dinner accounts for the largest proportion at 43%, followed by lunch at 29%. Breakfast and snacks both make up 14% each.
For saturated fat, dinner is again the highest at 37%, followed by lunch at 26%. Snacks contain 21% and breakfast contains 16% of saturated fat.
In contrast, for added sugar, snacks are the highest source at 42%, which is almost double the amount in dinner, which is 23%. Lunch contains 19% and breakfast contains 16% of added sugar.
To sum up, dinner is the main source of sodium and saturated fat, but snacks contain the most added sugar. All three nutrients are consumed in small amounts at breakfast.
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 addressed all parts of the prompt by selecting and reporting the main features of the three pie charts. A clear overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the highest and lowest points for each nutrient ('dinner contains the highest percentage of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks contain the most added sugar'). The body paragraphs accurately report the specific percentages for each meal type, such as dinner accounting for 43% of sodium and snacks making up 42% of added sugar, and appropriate comparisons are made, including noting that the percentage of added sugar in snacks is 'almost double the amount in dinner'. The data is faithfully represented without any major omissions or inaccuracies.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph, followed by a concise overview, body paragraphs dedicated to individual nutrients (sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar), and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader through the data, such as 'For sodium', 'For saturated fat', and 'In contrast'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct and logical function in the structure of the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, accurately utilizing terms related to statistical reporting and nutrition, such as 'proportion', 'source', 'nutrients', and 'percentages'. Word choices are precise, as seen in phrases like 'accounts for the largest proportion' and 'main source of sodium'. There are very few lexical errors, and the vocabulary used is well-suited to describing quantitative data in an academic context, supporting clear and fluent communication throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The writer demonstrates good control over a variety of sentence structures, successfully mixing simple and complex forms. Complex sentences with relative and subordinate clauses are handled well, such as 'which is almost double the amount in dinner, which is 23%.' The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation and subject-verb agreement are maintained accurately throughout the text. While the grammatical structures are somewhat standard for task 1 responses, they are executed with a high degree of accuracy and natural flow.
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