Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-14

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 compares the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011, and 2015. There were five different types of annual income.

Overall, the highest annual income in 2015 was less than $ 25,000 for thirty million households. While the lowest annual income in 2011 was 100,000 dollar or more for approximately13 million households.

Firstly, in 2007 the highest salary was 100,000 or more, which shows approximately 29 households. However, the lowest salary was 75,000-99,999 dollars, with approximately 14 households. But the other three types are in the middle category.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 2.5

The response identifies the chart’s subject and gives a few relevant comparisons, including the highest category in 2007 and the lowest category that year. However, the overview misreports the 2015 leader: households earning $100,000 or more were highest, at about 33.5 million, not those earning under $25,000. It also incorrectly says the lowest 2011 figure was about 13 million for the top-income group; that group was around 27.5 million, while the $75,000–$99,999 group was lowest at about 14 million. The final sentence does not report the other categories’ figures or trends. The response is only 79 words, below the required 150, so the task is addressed only minimally and key information is omitted.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph beginning with a comparison for 2007. The sequence from general description to a specific year is understandable, and words such as “Overall,” “Firstly,” and “However” signal relationships. However, the response ends before developing comparisons across all three years, so progression is incomplete. “But the other three types are in the middle category” is vague and does not explain how those groups compare. Some linking is also awkward: “While” introduces a fragment-like contrast rather than a complete, clearly connected overview statement. To improve, organise the main details by notable trends or income bands and use clear references to each year.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses enough basic vocabulary to identify the chart topic and income groups, with phrases such as “compares the number of households” and “approximately.” However, the range is limited, and some choices are imprecise for describing income data. “Highest salary” and “lowest salary” refer to pay rather than the number of households in an income band, which can confuse the comparison. “Types of annual income” and “middle category” are also vague. Use terms such as “income bracket,” “households earning,” and “the largest/smallest group” to describe the data more precisely. The repeated use of “approximately” and “highest/lowest” also limits variety; alternatives such as “about,” “roughly,” “most numerous,” and “fewest” would help.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response includes some correctly formed simple sentences, such as “The chart compares the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011, and 2015.” It also attempts a more complex contrast with “While,” showing some range beyond basic statements. However, that construction is not completed clearly: “While the lowest annual income in 2011 was…” is awkwardly attached to the preceding overview and does not form a well-balanced contrast. The sentence beginning “Firstly” also shifts into “which shows,” making the reference unclear. There are punctuation and spacing issues, including “approximately13,” and inconsistent sentence construction. Practise complete comparisons with clear subjects and verbs, for example, “In 2011, the smallest group was…”

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