Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-01

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 7.0)

The pie charts compare the average percentages of three types of nutrients, such as sodium, saturated fats and added sugars in typical meals consumed by Americans, which may lead to health concerns if consumed too much.

Overall, added sugar was consumed mostly in snacks, while sodium and saturated fat accounted for the highest proportions at dinner. All three nutrients were consumed in the smallest proportions at breakfast.

At breakfast, saturated fat and added sugar accounted for the same proportions, at 16% each, while sodium constituted 14%. Added sugar accounted for the highest proportions in snacks at 42%, while saturated fat made up 21% and sodium accounted for just 14%.

At dinner, sodium accounted for the largest proportions, at 43%, compared with just 23% for added sugar. Saturated fat accounted for 37% of nutrients consumption at dinner. At lunch, sodium and saturated fat accounted for the largest proportions, at 29% and 26%, respectively, whereas addes sugar accounted for just 19%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the charts and providing relevant comparisons. You present a clear overall trend in the second paragraph, correctly noting that added sugar was highest in snacks, while sodium and saturated fat peaked at dinner. The supporting details for each meal type are well-chosen and accurately reflect the visual data, such as highlighting sodium at 43% for dinner and added sugar at 42% for snacks. To reach an even higher level, you could further extend the comparison by integrating the data points more fluidly across categories rather than grouping them strictly by meal, which would reduce the tendency to mechanically list the percentages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

Your response maintains a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The division into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and subsequent body paragraphs dedicated to specific meals helps the reader navigate the data easily. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'whereas', and 'compared with' are used to link contrasting points effectively. However, the cohesion occasionally feels a bit formulaic or mechanical, particularly in how individual data points are introduced across the body paragraphs. To move closer to higher bands, you could employ a more seamless integration of referencing and transitional phrases to connect the meal-by-meal breakdown more fluidly to the overarching summary.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, accurately employing terms such as 'proportions', 'constituted', 'accounted for', and specific nutrient names like 'saturated fats' and 'sodium'. There are successful attempts at less common lexical items, and your vocabulary is generally sufficient for precision. However, there is a minor spelling slip in the final paragraph ('addes' instead of 'added'), and some of the phrasing is repetitive, such as the frequent reliance on 'accounted for'. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate a wider variety of synonyms and less common phrasing to describe proportional data with greater lexical flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You display good control of grammar and punctuation, successfully utilizing a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. There are frequent error-free sentences, and complex structures involving subordinate clauses—such as 'while sodium and saturated fat accounted for the highest proportions at dinner'—are handled well. Punctuation is generally accurate, aiding readability. The persistence of only a few minor errors keeps the response at this level. To reach the top tiers, ensure absolute precision in modifier placement and strive for an even wider variety of advanced syntactic structures with consistent error-free control.

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