Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below gives information about how families in one country spent their weekly income in 1968 and in 2018.

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

1968 and 2018: average weekly spending by families

Student answer (Band 4.5)

The chart defines the average spending of families of two distant years i;e of 1968 and other one 2018 , it the graph the spending is shown in percentage wrt to the itineraries Food, Housing ,fuel and power , clothing and footware , Household goods, Personal goods ,Transport, Leisure which ill be denoting as 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 respectively.

For 1 , In the year 1968 spending was 35% decreased in between of 15 to 20 percent in2018

For 2 , In 1968 it was 10% increased in between of 15 to 20% in 2018

For 3 , 5 to 10% in 1968 and below 5% in 2018,

For 4, 10% in 1968 and 5% in 2018

For 5, It was nearly equal

For 6, 5-10% in 1968 and below 5%in 2018

For 7, 5 to 10% in 1968 increased in between of 10 t0 15%

For 8, 5 to 10% in 1968 and increased between of 20 to 25%

it clearly indicates families for spending on leisure were cost cutting the other necessities

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to provide a clear overview or a coherent summary of the main trends. Instead of grouping data logically, the writer uses a repetitive, list-like structure that obscures the comparison between 1968 and 2018. The use of numbers (1-8) to represent categories is confusing and makes the report difficult to follow. While some data points are mentioned, the lack of synthesis and the failure to highlight significant changes (such as the dramatic shift in food versus leisure spending) mean the task is only partially addressed. The response lacks an analytical approach required for an Academic Task 1 report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The response lacks logical paragraphing and structure. The use of a numbered list format is inappropriate for an IELTS essay and disrupts the flow of information. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas; instead, the text relies on a mechanical, repetitive structure ('For 1...', 'For 2...'). The referencing is unclear because the reader must constantly refer back to the writer's own arbitrary numbering system rather than the actual category names. There is no clear progression of ideas, and the overall arrangement is disjointed.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.5

The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. The writer relies on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'decreased' and struggles to describe trends accurately. There are several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'footware' instead of 'footwear' and 'wrt' (an informal abbreviation). The reliance on numbering categories instead of using the provided labels significantly limits the range of vocabulary displayed. To improve, the student needs to use a wider variety of descriptive language to report on data, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'experienced a significant rise'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The grammatical range is very limited, consisting mostly of simple, fragmented sentences. There are frequent errors in punctuation and sentence structure, such as the run-on sentence in the introduction ('The chart defines... respectively.') and the inconsistent use of commas and capitalization. The phrasing 'ill be denoting as' is grammatically incorrect and informal. The response lacks complex sentence structures, and the frequent errors in basic grammar and syntax make the text difficult to read. Greater attention to sentence boundaries and subject-verb agreement is required.

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