Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-13

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 below illustrate the numbers of households in the US by their annual income in 2007,2011 and 2015.The number of households by annual income in US from 2007 to 2015.Households income in 2007 very decreases than 2015.Gradually income of households very increases.Households income in 2007 twenty five dollars and 2008 in income 26 millions dollars are increases.In 2009 are income of households very less approximately 20 millions dollars.And decreases households income in 2010.The US households income in 2011 are very increases and gradually increases almost 30 millions dollars are very less in 2013. Gradually are very decrease from 30 millions dollars.Are more increase almost 28 millions dollars.In 2015 are almost same income than 2011.are very increases income of households in US .And than very decreases income almost 20 millions dollars actually very less income of households in US approximately 15 millions dollars and than very decreases income in US households approximately 30 millions above.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response attempts to address the chart showing US households by annual income in 2007, 2011, and 2015. However, the information presented is largely inaccurate, highly confused, and fails to provide a clear overview or select and report the main features of the data. For instance, the student writes phrases such as 'Households income in 2007 twenty five dollars and 2008 in income 26 millions dollars are increases,' which do not accurately reflect chart data or standard reporting practices. There is no clear structure or logical selection of data points, and the attempt to make comparisons is rendered largely incomprehensible due to severe confusion in handling numbers and categories. Consequently, the performance aligns closely with Band 4 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The response lacks an effective organizational structure and is written as a single, dense block of text without paragraph breaks. Cohesive devices are either missing or misused, resulting in a disjointed and confusing read. For example, the frequent and repetitive use of transitional phrases like 'and than' and 'gradually' creates a mechanical and repetitive flow rather than logical progression. Referencing and pronoun use are extremely weak, making it very difficult for the reader to follow the relationships between ideas and data points. Overall, the information and ideas are not arranged coherently, matching the Band 4 criteria.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary used is very basic, repetitive, and severely limited. The student repeatedly relies on rudimentary words like 'income', 'households', 'increases', and 'decreases' without demonstrating the ability to paraphrase or use less common vocabulary appropriately. Furthermore, word choices and collocations are frequently unnatural or incorrect, such as 'very decreases' and 'twenty five dollars' when referring to millions. These lexical inadequacies and frequent word-choice errors strain the reader and impede comprehension, placing the response firmly at Band 4.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The grammatical range is extremely limited, consisting almost entirely of poorly formed, simple or fragmented structures. There is a complete lack of control over basic syntax, word order, and verb tenses. Numerous grammatical errors occur throughout the text, such as 'The chart below illustrate' (subject-verb agreement), 'Households income in 2007 very decreases' (incorrect use of adverb and verb forms), and 'are very increases income'. These frequent errors severely distort meaning and make the majority of sentences ungrammatical, which is characteristic of a Band 4 performance.

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