Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-15

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 4.5)

The bar chart provides the information about the households number of America by their yearly income in three different years.

Overall, the higest number of US households incomed more than 100,000 dollers, while the least number of American people incomed $75,000-$99,999 in over the 8 years period.

In 2007 the higest number of US households dominated the graph with almost 30 millions by incoming more than $100,000 along with $25,000-$49,999. In 2011 it was slightly dropped 30 millions to approximatel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the chart’s subject and attempt an overview, noting that the $75,000–$99,999 group was the smallest and that the $100,000-or-more group reached a high level. However, the overview is inaccurate: the highest category was not largest in every year, since $25,000–$49,999 was slightly higher in 2011, and the smallest category was not consistently $75,000–$99,999 (it was also the smallest in 2011, but the figures need to be reported precisely). The response ends mid-sentence and gives very little coverage of the data, omitting the 2015 figures and most comparisons. It is also 70 words below the required minimum. Include a complete overview and select key changes across all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, an overview paragraph, and a paragraph beginning with the 2007 data. This gives the reader some indication of how the information is organised. However, there is no clear progression through the years or income groups, and the final paragraph stops abruptly at “approximatel,” leaving the comparison unfinished. The phrase “along with” does not make clear how the two categories compare, while “in over the 8 years period” is confusing because the chart covers three selected years, not a continuous eight-year period. Use complete paragraphs and organise the details consistently, for example by comparing the main categories in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “bar chart,” “yearly income,” “slightly dropped,” and “dominated,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, making parts difficult to interpret. “Households number” is an awkward phrase, and “households incomed” incorrectly uses “income” as a verb. There are also spelling errors in “higest,” “dollers,” and “approximatel.” Choose standard reporting language and check spelling: for example, describe the number of households as “stood at” a figure, or say that a category “contained” a certain number of households. This would make the comparisons clearer and more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both a complex overview sentence and time-based reporting, as in “while the least number…” and “In 2007…”. However, the range is limited, and errors in sentence construction and grammatical forms are frequent enough to affect clarity. In “the households number of America,” the noun phrase is not formed correctly; “households incomed” also has an incorrect verb construction. The sentence “In 2011 it was slightly dropped 30 millions to approximatel” is incomplete and does not clearly express what changed. Practise complete comparative sentences with accurate subjects and verbs, such as “The figure for this group rose to…” Also check articles, plural forms and punctuation, and ensure every sentence is finished.

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