Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The first table below shows changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

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

Student answer (Band 4.0)

Overall, in table the total population is compare with one city to five another districts. Manhattan district is compare with other districts which are Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. In the first 1800 to 2000, these all districts are joint in one city which is New York. but, now the highest district that are divided into one city which is Manhattan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response makes a limited attempt to describe the tables, but it does not report the main numerical trends or comparisons. It mentions Manhattan and the other four districts, yet the statement that Manhattan is now “the highest district” is inaccurate: by 2000, the other districts together had 6,471,089 people, compared with Manhattan’s 1,538,096. The response also gives no figures to show that New York City’s population rose from 79,216 in 1800 to over 8 million in 2000, or that Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19%. The required minimum length is not met, leaving the task substantially incomplete. Select key figures and describe the overall growth and changing distribution accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic attempt to introduce the tables and connect ideas, using phrases such as “Overall” and “but.” However, the response is only one short, continuous paragraph and does not develop a clear progression from an overview to supporting comparisons. The relationship between the city’s total population and the district figures is difficult to follow, particularly in “these all districts are joint in one city.” The contrast introduced by “but” does not clearly connect to the preceding point, and “now” is vague when the tables show specific years. Organise the response into an overview and a paragraph of key comparisons, and use clear references to 1800, 1900 and 2000.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a small set of relevant terms, including “total population,” “districts” and the district names, so the topic is identifiable. However, vocabulary is repetitive and several word choices or combinations are inaccurate, such as “compare with one city to five another districts,” “are joint in one city” and “highest district.” These expressions make the intended comparisons unclear or misrepresent the data. Use precise population-reporting language and collocations, for example, “the city’s population increased,” “accounted for,” and “the remaining four districts combined.” Also distinguish between a district’s population and its share of the city total. This would make the limited description clearer and more appropriate to an academic summary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts connected sentences and uses a contrast with “but,” but its grammatical range is narrow and control is inconsistent. Errors include the missing article in “in table,” the incorrect construction “the total population is compare,” and agreement and verb-form problems in “these all districts are joint.” The final sentence also has an unclear structure: “the highest district that are divided into one city.” Capitalisation after the full stop in “but” is incorrect, and the comma after “but” is unnecessary in this position. Practise accurate simple comparative sentences first, such as “In 1800, Manhattan contained most of the city’s population,” then add correctly formed clauses to compare later years.

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