Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-13
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The chart below shows the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 4.0)
The chart illustrate about the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015 respectively. The annual income of $50000-$74999 has not changed over the years while others did. The annual income which has be the highest was $[redacted phone] or more in 2015 compare to the lowest ever on this data was in 2011 range of $75000-$99999 which never went upward after 15 household in a chart.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. Because the response is only 73 words, it is impossible to fully address all parts of the task. The summary is extremely brief and lacks a clear overview or a detailed selection of main features. While some data points are mentioned, the analysis is superficial and fails to provide a comprehensive comparison of the trends across the three years provided in the chart. To improve, you must ensure you write at least 150 words and provide a clear, structured overview of the data trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response lacks a clear logical structure. It consists of a single, short paragraph that does not effectively organize the information. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas, making the flow of the text disjointed. For example, the transition between the description of the $50,000-$74,999 income bracket and the subsequent points is abrupt. To achieve a higher band, you should organize your response into clear paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group related data points together, using linking words like 'furthermore', 'in contrast', or 'meanwhile'.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.5
The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. There are errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'The chart illustrate about' (should be 'The chart illustrates') and 'which has be the highest' (should be 'which was the highest'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to discuss the data with any precision. You are encouraged to learn and use more varied reporting verbs and nouns related to data analysis, such as 'fluctuate', 'remain stable', 'peak', and 'significant increase', to describe the trends more accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The chart illustrate'), incorrect verb tenses ('which has be'), and awkward sentence construction ('compare to the lowest ever on this data'). The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with errors. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures, ensuring correct subject-verb agreement, and using appropriate tenses when describing past data. Proofreading for basic errors is essential before submitting your work.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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