Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-02
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 given graph compares the number of households in the US by their annual income from 2007 to 2015.
It is clearly seen that in 2007 us households is used by 25 million people, us households from 25,000 to 49,0000 is tiny increased while the number started dropped to 20 and 15. More than 100,000 or more the number became peaked in 2007.By 2011, the households rose in less than 25,000 and it increased by tiny approximately 30. In contrast, the
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| 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, reaching only 81 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. The summary is incomplete, as it stops abruptly mid-sentence and fails to cover the data for 2015 or provide a meaningful overview of the trends. The information presented is also confusing; for example, the phrase 'us households is used by 25 million people' misinterprets the chart's axes. Because the response is significantly under-length and fails to report the main features or make relevant comparisons across the three years, it cannot be awarded a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response lacks a clear logical progression. The text is fragmented, and the abrupt ending makes it impossible to assess the overall structure. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas, and the referencing is unclear, such as the vague use of 'the number' without specifying which income bracket is being discussed. Paragraphing is absent, which is expected given the short length, but the lack of flow between the few sentences provided hinders readability significantly.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The vocabulary is very limited and often inaccurate. Phrases like 'tiny increased' and 'started dropped' demonstrate a lack of control over basic collocations and word forms. The student struggles to describe numerical data effectively, using imprecise language such as 'the number became peaked'. There is no attempt to use a range of vocabulary suitable for describing charts or trends, and the errors in word choice frequently impede the reader's understanding of the data being presented.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The grammatical range is extremely limited, consisting primarily of simple, error-prone sentences. There are frequent errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'us households is used') and tense usage. Punctuation is also problematic, with missing spaces after commas and inconsistent capitalization. The sentence structure is often disjointed, making it difficult to follow the intended meaning. No complex structures are attempted, and the high frequency of basic errors significantly impacts the clarity of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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