Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-13
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 7.5)
The pie charts illustrate the average percentages of three types of nutrients, namely sodium, saturated fat and added sugar, contained in typical meals consumed in the USA.
Overall, dinner accounts for the largest proportion of sodium and saturated fat, while snacks contribute the highest percentage of added sugar. In contrast, breakfast consistently represents the smallest or one of the smallest proportions across all three nutrients.
Regarding sodium, dinner makes up the largest share at 43%, followed by lunch at 29%. Breakfast and snacks each account for 14%. A similar pattern can be seen for saturated fat, with dinner again having the highest percentage at 37%, while lunch contributes 26%. Snacks account for 21%, and breakfast has the lowest figure at 16%.
The distribution of added sugar is somewhat different. Snacks are responsible for the largest proportion, at 42%, which is almost twice the figure for dinner, at 23%. Lunch contributes 19%, while breakfast has the smallest share, at 16%.
Overall, the charts show that dinner is the main source of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks are the major source of added sugar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response fully addresses all parts of the task by selecting and reporting the main features of the charts and making relevant comparisons. The introduction accurately paraphrases the prompt, stating that the pie charts illustrate the average percentages of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar in typical US meals. The writer identifies the most significant trends, noting that dinner is the primary source of sodium and saturated fat, whereas snacks dominate added sugar intake. Key data points, such as dinner accounting for 43% of sodium and snacks making up 42% of added sugar, are accurately cited and compared. The overview paragraphs successfully synthesize the main trends without unnecessary repetition, demonstrating a clear and fully developed understanding of the visual data. The band descriptors for Band 8 are fully met as all parts are covered well and supported with appropriate data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving naturally from an introductory overview to detailed body paragraphs analysing specific nutrients, and concluding with a concise summary. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each nutrient or meal category given clear structural focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Regarding sodium', 'A similar pattern can be seen', and 'In contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparisons without being intrusive. Referencing is consistently clear, and overall cohesion is well managed. This performance comfortably aligns with the Band 8 descriptor for logical sequencing and management of cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
The writer demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary suited to academic report writing. Phrases like 'largest proportion', 'consistently represents the smallest', 'A similar pattern can be seen', and 'somewhat different' show natural control. Less common lexical items and collocations, such as 'distribution of added sugar' and 'major source', are used accurately. There are no noticeable lexical errors or inappropriate word choices, and spelling is flawless. While the vocabulary is not overly ornate, it displays the precision and flexibility required for Band 8, handling the demands of data description with ease and clarity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response features a wide range of structures, successfully combining simple and complex sentence forms. Complex sentences are handled with good control, seen in clauses such as 'while snacks contribute the highest percentage of added sugar' and 'which is almost twice the figure for dinner, at 23%'. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and punctuation is handled accurately throughout. There are no persistent grammatical errors or awkward syntactical constructions that disrupt the flow of reading. This level of syntactic variety and high accuracy matches the criteria for an 8.0 band score, showing only occasional minor flaws if any.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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