Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-20

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)

In 2007 when we compared household income group and how many houses that group is buying we found out the following in respective order, Most homes (near 30 Million) were bought by the households having income of 100,000$ or more annually on second place we have income group ranging from 25,000$ to 49,000$ annually on third place we have income group of 25,000$ or below annually on fourth place we have income group ranging from 50,000$ to 74,999$ annually on last place in 2007 with least homes bought (around 15 Million) were by the income group ranging 75,000$ to 99,000$. In 2011 trends changed and now the income group with the most homes bought is making 24,999$ to or less annually, on second place we have the income group making 100,000$ or more annually, on third place is the income group ranging from 50,000$ to 74,999$ annually, on fourth place we have income group ranging from 75,000$ to 99,999$ annually, on last place with the least homes bought i

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies some relevant comparisons, including that the $100,000-or-more group was largest in 2007 and that the $75,000–$99,999 group was smallest. However, it does not provide a clear overview of the chart’s main features, and the account is incomplete: it stops partway through the 2011 description and gives no account of 2015. Some figures or rankings are also inaccurate; for example, in 2011 the $50,000–$74,999 group was about 21 million, not the third-largest group, while the $25,000–$49,999 group was about 29.5 million. The description also treats the data as homes being bought, although the chart counts households. Select the main trends accurately and summarise all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response attempts to organise information chronologically, moving from 2007 to 2011, and uses sequencing phrases such as “on second place” and “on last place.” This gives the reader some sense of the intended order. However, the information is presented as one very long, crowded sentence, with repeated ranking language rather than clear grouping or progression. The final section breaks off at “with the least homes bought i,” leaving the account unfinished and making the ending difficult to follow. Use separate paragraphs for an overview and the key comparisons, and connect complete sentences with clear references to the income groups and years.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses enough basic vocabulary to identify income categories and compare their relative positions, including “most,” “second place,” and “least.” However, the range is repetitive, and several choices are imprecise for describing this chart. “Homes bought” suggests purchases, whereas the data show numbers of households; “income group … is making” is also an awkward way to describe annual income. The repeated phrase “income group ranging from” makes the account cumbersome, and “in respective order” is not a natural expression here. Use more precise chart language, such as “households,” “numbered,” “accounted for,” and “income bracket,” while varying comparison phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentence structures and uses past-time framing, for example, “In 2007 … we found out the following.” However, sentence control is weak: the opening runs through several comparisons without clear sentence boundaries, and the long sequence of clauses is difficult to parse. There are also errors in agreement and construction, as in “how many houses that group is buying,” and the shift to “is making” in the 2011 description is not well controlled. Capitalisation after commas and punctuation around the listed categories are inconsistent. Build the account from shorter, complete sentences, check subject–verb agreement, and use consistent past-tense forms when reporting the years.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.