Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-16

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 bar chart illustrates the yearly income of US households in the year of 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Overall, the number of households earning hundred thousand dollars or more was at the peak for two years. But, the number of families whose income is between seventy-five thousand to one hundred thousand was almost the same over the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the chart’s subject and attempts an overview, but it does not adequately summarise the main features or make the required comparisons. The claim that households earning $100,000 or more were “at the peak for two years” is inaccurate: this group was highest only in 2015, while the $25,000–$49,999 group was highest in 2007 and 2011. The statement about the $75,000–$99,999 group being “almost the same” is broadly supported, but it is not enough to describe the chart. The response also omits most income groups and year-to-year figures. It is substantially below the required 150 words. To improve, give a clear overview and report several accurate comparisons across all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic, recognisable structure: an opening sentence is followed by a separate overview paragraph. The use of “Overall” signals the shift to the main summary, and the ideas are generally understandable. However, the response ends after two brief paragraphs, so there is no developed sequence of details or comparisons to guide the reader through the data. The contrast introduced by “But” is also not clearly connected to the first overview point. Add a body paragraph or two, grouping income categories by their trends, and use clear links such as “by contrast” or “while” to show how the figures relate. This would create more sustained progression rather than relying on a short overview alone.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to identify the chart’s subject and some categories, using phrases such as “bar chart,” “number of households,” and “income.” However, the range is narrow, and some expressions are imprecise or unnatural for describing data. “Yearly income” suggests the chart shows income amounts, whereas it shows household counts grouped by income; “at the peak” is also an awkward way to describe the highest category. The response repeats “number of households” and “income” without using alternatives such as “figure,” “category,” or “households earning.” Aim for precise chart language and a wider range of trend verbs, for example “rose,” “remained stable,” and “declined,” supported by accurate comparisons.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response uses simple sentence forms that are mostly understandable, including a relative clause in “families whose income is between…” and a contrast introduced by “But.” However, the range is limited, and several grammatical choices reduce accuracy. In the opening, “in the year of 2007, 2011 and 2015” has an unnecessary article and an awkward singular construction; use “in 2007, 2011 and 2015.” In the overview, “earning hundred thousand dollars or more” needs an article before “hundred,” and “was at the peak for two years” does not form a clear grammatical description of the data. Practise accurate comparative structures, such as “the number rose from… to…” and “remained stable at…,” to show more control.

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