Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

First table illustrates the transititionin the all community of New York city, 1800 to 2000. Also another tables show changes in the population of the five districts of the city, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, in same time schedule,

First of all, in top table we see all New York city all 5 districts, in 1800 number of peoples are 79,216, and 1900, 3,437,202, Also in 2000 it is improved to much round about 8,009,185,

However, on the other side, Manhattan city and Other districts are aslo available in these two tables, the population of manhattan in 1800 is 60,515, is the 76% of total population. Moreover, other five districts in 1800 only 24%, "but" after some years i

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the subject and report several accurate figures, including the city’s population in 1800, 1900 and 2000, as well as Manhattan’s 1800 population and share. However, the response is incomplete: it stops mid-sentence at “but after some years,” gives no overview of the main changes, and does not report the key shift that Manhattan’s share fell to 19% by 2000 while the other districts reached 81%. The task requires at least 150 words, but this response contains 101, so important comparisons and trends are left undeveloped. To improve, complete the account and summarise the overall growth and changing distribution across the three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: you introduce the tables, discuss the city-wide figures, and then turn to Manhattan and the other districts. Phrases such as “First of all” and “However” signal movement between points. Nevertheless, the progression is difficult to follow because the response ends abruptly, and the relationship between some details is unclear. For example, “other five districts” conflicts with the task’s grouping of Manhattan and the other four districts, while “in same time schedule” does not clearly connect the tables. Use separate, complete paragraphs for the overview and comparisons, and link each year’s figures explicitly so the reader can follow the changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “population,” “total population,” “districts,” and “percentage,” which helps communicate the subject. However, the range is basic and several word choices or spellings are inaccurate or awkward, such as “transititionin,” “number of peoples,” “improved to much,” and “time schedule.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning less clear, and “improved” is not suitable for a neutral population increase. Aim for precise, conventional language for describing data, such as “rose,” “accounted for,” and “population figures.” Check spelling and collocations carefully, and avoid unnecessary quotation marks around “but.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to combine information using clauses and linking expressions, for example, “the population of Manhattan in 1800 is 60,515, is the 76% of total population.” However, sentence structures are often incomplete or joined incorrectly, and the final sentence is unfinished. There are also problems with articles, agreement and tense, as in “in same time schedule” and “number of peoples are 79,216.” Commas frequently join separate statements where full stops or clearer sentence structures are needed. Use complete sentences with a consistent past-tense reporting pattern, for example, “In 1800, Manhattan had 60,515 residents, representing 76% of the city’s population.”

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