US Households by Annual Income

The chart below shows the number of households in the US by their annual income in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic Test 2 Writing Task 1 visual

Annotated response

8 correction notes

The bar chart presents data on the income distribution of US households .

Overall, the number of households earning between $50,000 and $99,999 remained relatively stable over the eight-year period, while both the lowest and highest income groups (below $49,999 and above $100,000) experienced an upward trajectory. Notably, had an income of $100,000 or more, while the $75,000 to $99,999 income group was comparatively .

The income group below $49,999 showed a minor increase in its numbers. In 2007, there were 25 million households earning less than $25,000, slightly fewer than the 27 million households earning between $25,000 and $49,999. By 2015, both categories had seen moderate growth, with approximately 28 million households falling into each group.

In contrast, the number of households within the $50,000 to $99,999 income range was lower. These figures remained consistent throughout the period, with 21 million households earning between $50,000 and $74,999, and approximately 15 million households earning between $75,000 and $99,999.

The highest income group, earning more than $100,000, experienced the most significant change. This group demonstrated an upward trend, from nearly 30 million households in 2007 to a peak of 33 million in 2015, despite a slight dip to 27 million recorded in 2011.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The response covers all income groups and years with a clear overview and mostly accurate figures, showing strong organisation and language control. Its main limitation is a few unsupported characterisations, such as describing the $100,000 group as a majority of households and the $75,000–$99,999 group as negligible, which slightly weaken data accuracy.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Achievement

7.0

The response presents a clear overview, covers all five income categories across the three years, and reports largely accurate figures, though statements such as calling the $100,000 group a 'majority' and the $75,000–$99,999 group 'negligible' are unsupported by the chart.

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0

Ideas are logically sequenced from an overview through low, middle, and high income groups, with cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', and 'Notably' used effectively.

Lexical Resource

7.0

Vocabulary is flexible and precise for describing trends and comparisons, including 'upward trajectory', 'moderate growth', and 'remained consistent', with only minor imprecision in wording like 'negligible'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0

A wide range of complex structures, including participle phrases and concessive clauses, is used with consistent accuracy and control throughout the response.

More responses with feedback

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