Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-26

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 given chart shows the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

In 2007, it reached maximum to 29 millions and minimum to 14 million . Early it was on 25 million after that it raised to 26 million than it decreased little bit to 21 millions and after than I decreased to the minimum number which was 14 millions and than raised to maximum number of 29 millions . It was the report of US household numbers in 2007.

1n year 2011, the maximum number was 30 millions and minimum was 13 millions. The maximum number was higher than 2007 and the minimum number was lower . Initially it was on 28 millions and than raised to higher number which was 30 millions after that it decreased a lot to 21 millions and again decreased to lower number that was 13 millions and at the end it was on 27 million that was in 2011.

At last , the year was 2015 , at first it was on 27 millions and than to 28 millions after that was decreasing to 21 millions and than to 15 million which was the lowest number and than it raised to 34 million the highest number in 2015.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies the chart’s subject and reports several broad patterns, including that the $100,000-or-more group is highest in 2015 and that the $50,000–$74,999 group stays around 21 million. However, it mainly describes each year in sequence rather than selecting and comparing the chart’s key features, and it has no clear overall summary. Several figures are inaccurate: for example, the 2007 maximum is about 29.5 million, not 29 million, and the 2011 minimum is about 14 million, not 13 million. The $75,000–$99,999 category also rises slightly by 2015 rather than being clearly presented as a comparative trend. A concise overview and more accurate comparisons across years would make the report more complete and relevant.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic chronological structure, with separate sections for 2007, 2011 and 2015, so the reader can follow which year is being discussed. However, there is little progression beyond repeating the same sequence of categories for each year. Linking words such as “after that,” “than” and “at last” are overused, and some references are unclear, as in “after than I decreased,” where the subject is difficult to identify. The opening sentence simply repeats the task, and the paragraphs do not provide an overview or group related trends across years. Organising the report around the main comparisons—for example, stable middle-income figures versus changes at the income extremes—would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate basic movements and comparisons, using terms such as “maximum,” “minimum,” “raised” and “decreased.” However, the range is limited and repetitive, and some choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing a chart: “reached maximum to,” “decreased a lot” and “at first it was on” do not express the data smoothly. Repeated use of “number” also makes the account less precise; “households” or “figure” would often be more suitable. There are spelling and word-form slips, including “1n” for “In” and repeated “than” where “then” is intended. Practising standard trend language and accurate collocations would make the report clearer and more formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response relies mainly on simple past-tense statements and repeated sentence patterns, with limited variety in clause structure. Frequent errors affect accuracy and sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “In 2007, it reached maximum to 29 millions and minimum to 14 million” has faulty article and preposition patterns, while “after than I decreased” has an unclear subject and incorrect sentence construction. There are also inconsistent forms such as “it raised” and “it was decreasing,” as well as punctuation spacing problems. The reader can generally infer the intended year-by-year account, but more reliable sentence construction is needed. Practise writing complete comparisons with clear subjects and consistent past-tense verbs.

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