User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 4.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

192 words AcademicTask 1Line Graph

Task 1

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

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Ideas to explore

Identify the overall direction of each line separately: margarine and butter fall over the full period, while the low-fat variety rises after it appears and then declines.
Highlight key turning points: butter peaks in 1986, margarine reaches a plateau around 100 grams in 1991–1996, and the low-fat line surges by 2001.
Mention crossovers where they change the ranking: Low Fat & Reduced Spreads is highest in 2001, while butter and margarine are no longer the leading series.

Suggested structure

Introduce the graph, naming all three spreads, the years and the unit.
Give an overview that accurately summarises the different overall patterns and the late-period ranking.
Describe butter and margarine together, using their start values, peaks or plateaus and final values.
Describe the later-starting low-fat series and compare its 2001 peak with the other spreads.

Useful vocabulary & examples

reached a peak of: rose to its highest recorded value
Butter reached a peak of approximately 160 grams in 1986.
remained stable at: stayed at approximately the same level
Margarine consumption remained stable at around 100 grams from 1991 to 1996.
overtook both alternatives: became higher than the other two series
Low Fat & Reduced Spreads overtook both alternatives in 2001.
eased to: fell slightly or gradually to a lower value
The low-fat spread eased to about 70 grams by 2007.

Task Prompt

The graph below shows the consumption of 3 spreads from 1981 to 2007.

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 4.0

The given graph illustrates the consumption of three variations of foods (margarine, low-fat and reduced spreads, and butter) between 1981 and 2007. Overall, we can see on the graph butter peaked in 1986 and margarine fluctuated over the period. Low-fat and reduced spreads reached a high point in 2001. When butter was rising over the first five years, margarine went down a little, from about 90 grams to 80 grams. After 1986, butter fell quickly, reaching 100 grams in 1991 and then about 70 grams in 1996. Margarine also rose to 100 grams in 1991 and stayed at this level in 1996. Low-fat and reduced spreads first appeared in 1996, at only about 10 grams. They then rose sharply to roughly 85 grams in 2001, which was their highest figure. By 2007, low-fat and reduced spreads had fallen to 70 grams, while butter and margarine were at about 50 and 40 grams. In general, butter started as the most popular spread, but its consumption went down, while low-fat spreads became more popular near the end. The figures for margarine changed up and down, but it finished lower than the other two spreads.

Targeted Improvement Tips

Replace the broad opening label with “three types of spread,” then name margarine, low-fat and reduced spreads, and butter consistently.

Write a two-part overview that contrasts butter’s long decline with the late rise of low-fat and reduced spreads; avoid repeating the margarine trend in the conclusion.

Check each year against the graph before describing a change: margarine is around 100 grams in both 1991 and 1996, while low-fat and reduced spreads begin at about 10 grams in 1996.

AI Feedback

Overall Band

4.0

Modest

Words

192

Type

Line Graph

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

5.0 Band

The answer describes all three spreads and includes relevant comparisons, such as butter falling to about 70 grams in 1996 and low-fat spreads reaching roughly 85 grams in 2001. The overview identifies the main peak and broad changes, but “margarine fluctuated over the period” is quite general, and the opening calls the products “variations of foods.” Next, name the categories precisely and use the overview to compare their overall directions.

Coherence & Cohesion

4.5 Band

The answer has an overview followed by chronological detail, and signposts such as “After 1986” and “By 2007” help readers follow the timeline. However, ideas are repeated: the first paragraph says margarine fluctuated, and the ending again says its figures “changed up and down.” Grouping the data into an early period and a later period, then avoiding repeated summary points, would make the progression clearer.

Lexical Resource

4.5 Band

The response uses useful chart language, including “fell quickly,” “rose sharply,” and “reached a high point,” to describe changes. Some choices are imprecise or repetitive: “three variations of foods” is not a natural way to introduce spreads, and “changed up and down” is informal and vague. Practise a small set of accurate trend verbs and use “spread” consistently when referring to the three categories.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

4.0 Band

Most sentences communicate simple comparisons, and the answer uses past-tense verbs such as “fell,” “rose,” and “had fallen.” Some phrasing is awkward, particularly “we can see on the graph,” while the long opening sentence carries several category names and is harder to read. Build clearer sentences with a subject-led structure—for example, “Butter peaked…”—and check articles, verb tense, and sentence boundaries.

Topic Band Distribution

Band 9.03 examples

Band 8.03 examples

Band 7.03 examples

Band 6.03 examples

Band 5.03 examples

Band 4.03 examples

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