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)
the table illustrate about differces in the total population of New York City from 1800s to 2000s . The secound and third show differences in the population of the 5 districts of city are manhattan , Brooklyn , Bronx , Queens , and Saten Island over in same time
Oerview in 1800 the Manhattan have more portion of population while i otther districts it have low population while the lowest population is in 2000 in manhattan they have different one have high while other have low
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 3.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0
You identify the topic and make a relevant comparison between Manhattan and the other districts, noting that Manhattan had a larger share in 1800. However, the response does not adequately summarise the tables: it gives no accurate figures and misses the main changes, including the city’s substantial overall growth and the shift in population share towards the other districts by 2000. The statement that Manhattan had its “lowest population” in 2000 is unclear and does not explain that its population peaked in 1900 before falling. The response is also 73 words below the 150-word minimum, leaving the task substantially incomplete. Include a clear overview and select key figures and trends to support it.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5
There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening sentence introduces the tables, followed by a sentence beginning “Overview.” This gives the reader a rough sense of the intended structure. However, the ideas do not progress clearly from the overall population trend to the district comparisons, and the overview sentence is difficult to follow, particularly “while i otther districts it have low population.” The response also lacks paragraph development and clear links between its points. Use separate paragraphs for the introduction, overview and key comparisons, and connect the information with straightforward transitions such as “By contrast” and “By 2000.”
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “total population,” “districts,” “portion” and “population,” so the subject is recognisable. However, the range is narrow and several spelling and word-choice errors make the writing less clear, such as “differces,” “secound,” “Oerview” and “Saten Island.” “Portion” is understandable but “share” is more natural when describing percentages, while “differences” does not precisely describe changes over time. Aim for accurate spelling and use specific terms such as “rose,” “fell,” “accounted for” and “population share” to report the data. Avoid repeating “population” when a more precise expression is available.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The response attempts to communicate the information through simple sentences, but control of basic sentence structure is inconsistent. For example, “the Manhattan have more portion” has incorrect subject–verb agreement and article use, while “they have different one have high while other have low” does not form a clear grammatical comparison. The opening also joins several ideas without reliable punctuation, and the sentence patterns show little variety. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, for example, “Manhattan accounted for 76% of the city’s population in 1800, compared with 19% in 2000.” Check agreement, articles and punctuation before submitting.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.