Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-03

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The charts below show the changes in ownership of electrical appliances and amount of time spent doing housework in households in one country between 1920 and 2019.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Percentage of households with electrical appliances (1920-2019)

Student answer (Band 4.5)

The line graph illustrates the amount of time consumed while doing housework in 1920 and 2019 in one nation.

Overall, the refrigerator and vacuum cleaner were the most used throughout the period from 1920 to 2019. Meanwhile, the use of washing machines showed a steady pick-up during the first two decades. From 1960 to 1980 sudden decline in the use of washing machines before it grew steadily in the last two decades.

In 1920, washing machines were used the most, and refrigerators were used the least.

Perhaps in the Middle of the graph, in 1960, refrigerators were used the most. After 1960, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners were at their highest peak and showed steady growth over the time period.

In the end, all three household requirements were shown to have increased. Initially, refrigerators were at their lowest use in 1920, and in 2910 Refrigerator and vacuum cleaners were at the same level of consumption.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response addresses the task only partially, failing to adequately report the data shown in the visual aids. The opening sentence misinterprets the graphs by stating the line graph illustrates the amount of time consumed while doing housework in 1920 and 2019, omitting the crucial element of household appliance ownership entirely from the introduction. Furthermore, the selection of data is erratic and misses major trends, such as the overall downward trajectory of housework hours or the dramatic rise of refrigerators and vacuum cleaners reaching 100 percent. The student includes inaccurate statements and typos, such as referring to the year 2910 instead of 2019, and the body paragraphs fail to provide a clear, well-supported overview of the main features.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is some organisation attempted through paragraphing, but the response lacks clear overall progression. The information is not arranged in a coherent sequence; for instance, jumping abruptly between appliance ownership and housework hours without clear links. Cohesive devices are basic and sometimes misused, such as 'Meanwhile' and 'In the end', which fail to create logical bridges between ideas. Referencing is also weak, as seen in vague phrases like 'Perhaps in the Middle of the graph', which disrupts the logical flow and makes the overall arrangement feel disjointed and mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The lexical range is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The student relies on repetitive and basic vocabulary such as 'used', 'growth', and 'increased'. There are noticeable lexical errors, awkward word choices, and collocations, such as 'steady pick-up' and 'highest peak', as well as a severe typographical error ('2910' instead of '2019') that strains the reader's understanding. While some attempts are made to use descriptive terms, the vocabulary control remains weak and repetitive throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, relying primarily on simple sentences and basic subject-verb patterns. Attempts at more complex structures are largely absent or faulty. There are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, including missing articles ('in Middle of the graph'), awkward preposition use, and tense inconsistencies. These errors can cause some difficulty for the reader, although basic meaning is occasionally salvaged by simple constructions.

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

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