Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-21

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)

In 1968 the family spent most of its income on food but in 2018 they control the expenses on food.In 1968 the family spent its weekly income on housing is less than than in 2018.Family spent less income on fuel or power it spent more money in 1968 than 2018.On clothing family spent more money in 1968 as compare to 2018.Family spent equal income on household goods in 2018 and 1968.in 1968 the family a lot of money on personnal goods than in 2018.in 2018 the family spent more money on transport than in 1968. in 2018 the family spent most of its weekly income on leisure than in 1968. only the family spent equal income in 2018 and 1968 on household goods .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify several relevant comparisons, including food taking the largest share in 1968, housing and leisure rising by 2018, and household goods remaining equal. However, the response does not provide a clear overview of the main changes, and it reports no figures to support these points. Some statements are unclear or inaccurate in meaning: “they control the expenses on food” does not clearly say that food’s share fell, while “spent most of its weekly income on leisure than in 1968” is an awkward comparison rather than a precise report. The response is also below the required 150 words. To improve, give a concise overview, include key percentages, and explain the largest rises and falls.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

The response follows the chart categories in a generally understandable sequence, so the reader can recognise that you are comparing 1968 with 2018. However, it is presented as one continuous block, with no clear introduction or overview to guide the reader. Several comparisons are repeated, especially the statement that household-goods spending was equal, which appears twice. Connections between ideas are also limited, and the repeated opening “the family spent” makes the progression mechanical. Organise the report into paragraphs, group categories that rose or fell, and use clear comparison structures such as “whereas” or “by contrast” to show how each point relates to the previous one.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use basic vocabulary relevant to the chart, including “income,” “housing,” “fuel,” “clothing,” “transport,” and “leisure,” and the main topic is usually recognisable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which makes some comparisons difficult to understand. For example, “control the expenses on food” does not express a decrease in the share spent, and “a lot of money” is imprecise for describing chart data. There are also spelling errors such as “personnal” and “footware.” Use precise terms for proportions and change, such as “accounted for,” “rose,” “fell,” and “remained unchanged,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

Most of the response uses short, simple statements, and the reader can identify the intended comparison in several of them. However, sentence structures are very limited, and frequent errors affect clarity. For example, “the family spent its weekly income on housing is less than than in 2018” combines incompatible sentence patterns; “Family spent less income on fuel or power it spent more money…” lacks a clear connection between clauses; and “in 1968 the family a lot of money” is missing a verb. Articles, agreement, and punctuation are also inconsistent, including missing spaces after full stops and repeated sentence openings without capitalisation. Practise complete comparative sentences and use accurate past-tense forms throughout.

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