Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-22

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 illustrate per anum income of numerous families in US in 2007,2011 and 2015.

overall, Most of families had annual income less than 25000 .Housholds having salaries of 75000 remained almost same over the years which were the least in all proportions.

In 2015 record number of housholds having annual earnings of [redacted phone] or more which were approximately 34 million, at second was the household income ranging 25000 to 49999 dollars which were around 28 million people. At third postion reamined the annual income of less than 25000 whichg was around 27 mnillion total in number. The lowest number of household per anum income was in range of 75000 to 99999 dollars per anum which were 15 million .

in 2011 hosholds having salary of 25000 to 49999$ per year were the most in number about 3

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.0
Coherence and Cohesion4.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall4.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies some relevant features, including the high figure for households earning $100,000 or more in 2015 and the comparatively low totals in the $75,000–$99,999 group. However, the overview is inaccurate: households earning under $25,000 were not the largest group overall; the $100,000-or-more category was highest in 2007 and 2015, while $25,000–$49,999 led in 2011. The claim that the $75,000 group remained almost unchanged is broadly reasonable, but calling it the lowest in every year overlooks that it was consistently the smallest category. The final sentence is cut off, leaving the 2011 comparison incomplete. The response also falls 11 words short of the required minimum. Add a complete overview and accurately compare the main categories across all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, beginning with an introduction and an overview before moving to details about 2015 and 2011. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the comparisons are not arranged consistently by year or income group, and the final sentence ends abruptly at “about 3,” leaving the reader without a complete point. The overview and detail paragraphs also repeat some information without developing a clear comparison. Use separate, purposeful paragraphs: first give an accurate overview, then compare the main figures and trends in a logical order. Linking expressions such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile” could help show relationships, but should connect complete, clearly ordered ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some task-relevant vocabulary, including “annual earnings,” “income,” “households,” and “approximately,” so the main subject is generally recognisable. However, word choice and spelling are often inaccurate or awkward, as in “per anum,” “postion,” “reamined,” and “whichg.” Phrases such as “record number” and “at second was the household income” are not natural ways to describe chart data, while “people” is imprecise when the chart counts households. Repeated use of “salary” also does not fit household income particularly well. Aim for accurate, standard terms such as “the number of households,” “income bracket,” and “stood at,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts several sentence forms, including a general overview and comparisons, but control is inconsistent. The opening has a subject–verb agreement error in “The bar chart illustrate,” and the overview contains faulty construction in “Most of families had annual income less than 25000.” Agreement and number are also problematic in “which were 15 million,” where the subject is a singular number of households. Missing articles and punctuation, along with run-on presentation, make some sentences harder to read. The final sentence is incomplete, so it does not communicate a finished comparison. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check articles, agreement, and sentence-ending punctuation. More accurate simple sentences would improve clarity before adding complex structures.

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