Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-06

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 chart illustrates the average percentage of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars contained in four different types of meals consumed in USA: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.

Overall, dinner contains the highest proportion of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks account for the largest share of added sugar. By contrast, breakfast has the lower percentage of all three nutrients.

In term of sodium, diner contributes the largest proportion, at 43%, followed by lunch at 29%. Snacks account for the 14%, while breakfast contain the smallest share, at just 14%. A similar pattern can be seen for saturated fat, although the figures are slightly different. Dinner again represent the highest proportion, at 37%, with lunch making up 26%. Snacks account for 21%, while breakfast has the lowest figure, at 16%.

The distribution of added sugar differs considerably. Snacks are the main source, accounting for 42%, which is more than twice the proportion found in lunch(19%). Dinner contributes 23%, while breakfast has the lower percentage, at 16%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response selects the main features accurately: dinner has the highest shares of sodium (43%) and saturated fat (37%), while snacks lead for added sugar (42%). It also reports the key meal-by-meal figures correctly and makes relevant comparisons, including noting that snack sugar is more than twice lunch’s share. The overview is clear and gives the reader a useful summary of the contrasting patterns. To make the account more fully developed, include a little more direct comparison across nutrients—for example, sodium and saturated fat both peak at dinner, but their snack and breakfast shares differ. The statement that breakfast has the lowest percentage of all three is broadly supported, though it ties with snacks for sodium rather than being uniquely lowest.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The organisation is clear and effective: an introduction is followed by an overview, then a paragraph on sodium and saturated fat and a final paragraph on added sugar. This sequence makes the main contrast easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “By contrast,” “A similar pattern” and “while” help connect the information. The progression is logical, although some connections are formulaic and the repeated “account for” and “while” patterns make parts of the report feel slightly list-like. For stronger cohesion, vary the comparison structures and link the final paragraph more explicitly to the earlier meal patterns, rather than presenting each set of figures in a similar sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for describing chart data, with useful choices such as “proportion,” “distribution,” “contributes” and “main source.” These allow the writer to report figures and identify contrasts clearly. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive: “the lower percentage” is less natural than “the lowest percentage,” and “diner” appears to be a spelling error for “dinner.” Phrases such as “account for” recur several times, limiting flexibility. The range is sufficient, but more precise and varied language would improve control—for instance, use “constitute,” “make up” or “represent” selectively, and distinguish a “share” from a “percentage” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and more developed sentence forms, including contrast clauses (“whereas snacks account…”) and comparison structures (“which is more than twice…”). Most meanings remain clear, but some grammatical errors persist. In “breakfast contain the smallest share,” the singular subject requires “contains”; similarly, “Dinner again represent” should be “represents.” The phrase “breakfast has the lower percentage” should use the superlative form “lowest,” and the extra space in “the lower percentage” affects presentation. There is also an article issue in “account for the 14%,” where the article is unnecessary. Proofreading agreement, articles and comparative forms would make the otherwise clear sentences more accurate.

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