Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-16
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The bar chart below shows the top ten countries for the production and consumption of electricity in 2014.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 4.5)
The bar chart illustrates the figures for [subject] in [number] different [countries/categories] in [year/time period], with the data measured in [units].
Overall, it is evident that [the highest category] recorded the highest figure, whereas [the lowest category] had the lowest. Another notable feature is that there was a considerable disparity between the leading and remaining categories, while the figures for the middle-ranking groups were comparatively similar.
Looking first at the highest figures, [Category A] stood at approximately [figure], making it the most significant category shown on the chart. This was followed by [Category B], at around [figure]. The figure for [Category C] was somewhat lower, at [figure], although it remained substantially higher than that of [Category D]. Taken together, these figures indicate that the first few categories accounted for a considerably larger proportion of the total than the others.
Turning to the remaining categories, [Category E] recorded roughly [figure], followed by [Category F] at [figure]. At the lower end of the scale, [Category G] and [Category H] registered approximately [figure] and [figure], respectively. The gap between the highest and lowest figures was therefore considerable. Overall, the data demonstrate a clear ranking among the categories, with a small number of groups accounting for the most substantial figures.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 1.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 1.0
The response is a template that fails to address the specific task requirements. By using placeholders such as [subject], [number], and [Category A], the writer has not provided any actual data from the bar chart. To achieve a higher band score, the candidate must replace these placeholders with the specific countries (e.g., China, USA) and the corresponding electricity production and consumption figures provided in the prompt. As it stands, the response does not report any main features or make relevant comparisons based on the provided visual information, resulting in a failure to address the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is structured logically with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Looking first at', 'Turning to', and 'Overall' provides a clear, mechanical flow. However, because the content is entirely template-based and lacks specific data, the logical progression is hollow. While the paragraphing is appropriate for an IELTS report, the lack of meaningful content prevents the development of ideas, which is a fundamental requirement for coherence and cohesion at higher levels.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The vocabulary used is appropriate for an IELTS Task 1 report, featuring phrases like 'considerable disparity', 'middle-ranking groups', and 'accounted for a considerably larger proportion'. These are good, academic-style collocations. However, because the response is a template and does not contain any specific subject-matter vocabulary related to electricity production or consumption, the range is severely limited. The candidate demonstrates an ability to use formal language, but it is not applied to the actual topic of the task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The grammatical structures are varied and accurate, utilizing complex sentences, passive voice constructions, and appropriate comparative structures. There are no grammatical errors in the text provided. The candidate shows a good command of English syntax and punctuation. If this level of grammatical control were applied to a response that actually addressed the task prompt with specific data, the score for this criterion would be significantly higher. The current score reflects the high level of accuracy despite the lack of task-specific content.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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