Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-28

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.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The three pie charts compare the average proportion of sodium, saturated fat and added sugar consumed during four typical meals in the USA : Breakfast, lunch, Dinner, Snacks.

Overall, dinner accounts for the highest intake of both sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks contribute the largest proportion of added sugar. By contrast, breakfast consistently contains lowest proportion of all the three nutrients.

Regarding sodium, dinner contribute highest proportion at 43%, followed by lunch at 29%. Breakfast and snacks each account for 14%. A similar pattern can be seen in the saturated fat, dinner makes up largest share at 37% of the total, compared with 26% for lunch, followed by snacks at 21%, while breakfast has the smallest proportion at 16%.

The distribution of added sugar differs noticeably. Snacks are responsible for the highest percentage at 42%, dinner at 23%. Lunch accounts for 19%, while the proportion of breakfast contributes same as saturated fat at 16% has lowest figure.

In the end, dinner is a main source of sodium and saturated fat, while added sugar is consumed predominantly through snacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main features of the three pie charts and provided relevant comparisons between the nutrient intakes across the four meal categories. The overview is clear and highlights the key trends, such as dinner being the primary source of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks dominate added sugar intake. The data is accurately reported, and the comparisons are logical and well-supported by the figures provided. You have met the requirements of the task well by selecting the most significant information rather than listing every single data point.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the introduction, overview, and the detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Regarding', and 'A similar pattern' are used appropriately to link sentences and ideas. The flow of information is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The structure is coherent, and the transition between the different nutrients is handled well, ensuring the reader can easily follow the comparison of data.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data accurately, such as 'proportion', 'intake', 'contribute', and 'predominantly'. The word choice is generally precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated or varied synonyms to elevate the response further. For example, instead of repeating 'proportion' or 'highest', you could use terms like 'the largest share', 'the primary source', or 'the most significant contributor'. Overall, the lexical range is adequate and supports the clear communication of the data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively. There are a few minor errors, such as missing articles (e.g., 'dinner contribute highest proportion' should be 'dinner contributes the highest proportion') and some minor punctuation or phrasing issues. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the use of comparative structures is accurate. To reach a higher band, ensure consistent subject-verb agreement and check for missing articles in future tasks.

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