IELTS Academic Writing Task #2
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Tip: Bar charts present figures as percentages, but they may still not be exact. Therefore it is good to use approximate e.g. about, around, more than, less than, etc.
Write at least 150 words.
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. Make comparisons where relevant.
Average percentages of saturated fat, added sugar and sodium in meals consumed in the USA.
The charts provided compare the mean proportion of three nutrients consumed by Americans in different meals. It is clear that the highest proportion of added sugar comes from snacks, while dinner accounts for the largest share of saturated fat and sodium.
Saturated fat and sodium are consumed in similar proportions at the different meal times. For breakfast this is between 14 and 16%, increasing to between 26 and 29% at lunchtime. There is more difference between the nutrients at dinner which comprises 43% of the daily intake of sodium, but slightly less than a third of saturated fat. However, the proportion of saturated fat consumed from snacks is one and a half times that of sodium.
The percentage of added sugar consumed for breakfast is within the same range as saturated fat and sodium. However, smaller proportions of added sugar are eaten at lunch and dinner, at just under a fifth and a quarter respectively. More than 40% of added sugar comes from snacks.
To summarise, while more than half of the saturated fat and sodium consumed by Americans on a daily basis comes from lunch and dinner, the majority of added sugar is consumed from breakfast and snacks.
Useful Language
the mean – another word for average
accounts for – another way to say makes up
consumed – a better word than eaten, although eaten is used later for range
daily intake – the amount of something consumed each day
However – a linking word to show contrast
slightly less than/just under – phrases to approximate rather than giving exact numbers
respectively – a word to show that two numbers relate to two things mentioned before in the same order
