Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-13

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 4.0)

The line charts illustrated below about proportions of famalies in one country spent their weekly assets in ([redacted phone]).

Overall its clear that the food proportions of family assets their expences suffer on food was surge to its peak while on the other the family personal and goals are slightly to the mere pitance further their weekly amount was in nominal amount.

The family weekly spending assets on food housing transport and leisure in the year of ([redacted phone]) food value slightly rose to be its peak the family spent their valuable assets on foods are going to be dramatic leap in 1968 their value are likely to the precie on one thiird while in 2018 their weekly assets is moderately plumet to the tiny silver 15% family weekly assets on housing in 1968 are set on 10% while in 2018 their expences are slightly increase are known to dramaticaly to its peak , their expence on transport are moderate in 1968 they are going to be a nominal amount 8% and in 2018 negligible fraction a tiny silver on the other personal goals fuel power clothihing footware are still constant value

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response attempts to address the task by mentioning categories such as food, housing, transport, and leisure across the years 1968 and 2018. However, the student fails to accurately report the main features or make clear, valid comparisons. For instance, the text claims that food spending rose to a peak in 1968 at around one-third and plummeted to 15% in 2018, while housing increased dramatically to a peak, which contradicts standard visual data interpretations for this prompt. Furthermore, the writing suffers from a lack of clear development, meaning the overview and specific details are frequently confused and inaccurate. This performance aligns best with Band 4 descriptors, as the response is difficult to follow and addresses the task only partially and somewhat inaccurately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The organization and progression of the text are severely disrupted. The response consists of very long, rambling sentences merged into two poorly structured paragraphs that lack logical sequencing and clear paragraph breaks. Cohesive devices are either missing or misused, with phrases like 'further their weekly amount' and 'on the other the family' failing to create logical connections between ideas. Additionally, referencing is unclear throughout the text, making it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of information. This level of cohesion and paragraphing falls squarely within Band 4, where information and ideas are not arranged coherently.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary used is very basic, repetitive, and often misused, which significantly strains the reader's comprehension. The student attempts less common phrases such as 'mere pitance', 'dramatic leap', and 'tiny silver', but these are frequently combined with severe collocation and word-choice errors, such as 'weekly assets' instead of 'weekly spending' or 'income'. Spelling and word formation are also problematic, with errors like 'famalies' and 'expences'. The range of vocabulary is limited and inadequate for a clear academic discussion of statistical data, matching the criteria for a Band 4 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The grammatical range is extremely limited, relying heavily on long, run-on sentences that lack proper punctuation and syntactic structure. There is a total absence of error-free sentences, with persistent errors in verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and clause structures (e.g., 'the line charts illustrated about proportions of famalies in one country spent...'). Sentences are frequently fragmented or grammatically malformed, making the meaning obscure and causing frequent difficulty for the reader. These pervasive and severe grammatical inaccuracies place the response firmly in Band 4.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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