Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-09

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 tables shows who population is increase in different cities, whereas polulation propotion is delcine in cities, from 1800 to 2000.

overall,In the New York City the pololation is steadily increase in the year of 1800 to 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies two relevant broad features: New York City’s population increased over the period, while Manhattan’s share declined. However, it gives almost no supporting information from the tables and does not compare the districts or report the key change that the other four districts together grew to account for most of the city’s population. The statement that population increased “in different cities” is also imprecise, since the data concern New York City and its districts. The overview is brief and does not capture the contrast between Manhattan’s falling population after 1900 and the continued growth elsewhere. The response is substantially below the required 150 words, leaving the task only minimally addressed. Include an overview and select several accurate figures to support the main comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: the first sentence introduces a contrast, and the second begins an overall summary. The linking word “whereas” signals a relationship between the trends, so the reader can identify the intended comparison. However, the response is too brief to develop a clear progression, and the two sentences do not form a complete summary of the tables. The opening phrase is difficult to follow, and “overall” is not properly separated from the sentence that follows. Use a clear introduction, a distinct overview, and one or two paragraphs grouping the figures and comparisons; connect these ideas with accurate, purposeful transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response attempts some task-relevant vocabulary, including “population,” “proportion,” “decline,” and “steadily,” and the intended broad trends can be inferred. However, spelling errors such as “polulation” and “pololation” recur, while “who population” and “population proportion” are inaccurate or unnatural expressions. “Different cities” is also an imprecise description of the districts shown. The small vocabulary range and repeated errors make the summary less clear and precise than it needs to be. Build a reliable set of terms for describing tables, such as “the city’s population,” “share of the total,” “rose,” and “fell,” and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response uses two simple sentences and attempts a contrast with “whereas,” but grammatical control is inconsistent. In “The tables shows,” the plural subject does not agree with the verb; “who population is increase” has an incorrect clause structure and verb form; and “proportion is decline” also uses an incorrect verb construction. The second sentence has a more recognisable structure, but “the population is steadily increase” does not use the correct verb form, and “in the year of 1800 to 2000” is not a well-formed time expression. Capitalisation and spacing around “Overall” also need attention. Practise accurate past-tense comparisons and simple trend sentences before adding more complex structures.

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