Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-10

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 charts illustrate the changing in the total population of the New York City and its districts from 1800 to 2000. The data shows the numbers of New York city and each district which are five:" Manhatten, Brooklyn, Bronxs, Queens and Staten Island"

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The opening identifies the subject and the 1800–2000 period, and it names the five districts, so it is relevant to the task. However, it does not summarise the tables: there is no overview of the major trends, no population figures, and no comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts. The key features—that the city’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share grew—are all missing. The response is also far below the required 150 words, leaving the task only minimally addressed. To improve, provide an overview and select several accurate figures to illustrate the changes and contrasts shown in the tables.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response has a basic sequence: it introduces what the charts show, then identifies the districts. This gives the reader a starting point, but there is no further progression because the response ends before presenting an overview or supporting details. The colon and list make the second sentence understandable, although the quotation marks around the district names are unnecessary and interrupt the flow. There is also no paragraphing or use of linking language to organise comparisons. Develop a clear structure with an introduction, an overview, and one or two paragraphs grouping the population changes; use simple links such as “by contrast” or “over the same period” where they clarify relationships.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a small set of relevant terms, including “total population,” “districts,” and “data,” and the reader can identify the topic. However, the vocabulary is too limited to describe the main trends or make comparisons, and some choices are inaccurate or awkward. “The changing in” is not a natural expression, while “the numbers of New York city and each district” is imprecise for population figures. The district names also contain spelling errors: “Manhatten” and “Bronxs.” Use accurate terms such as “population increased,” “accounted for,” “share,” and “declined,” and check the spelling of proper nouns. A broader, more precise range is needed to report the tables effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts two complete sentences, and the basic meaning is generally recoverable. However, grammatical control is uneven. In “The charts illustrate the changing in the total population,” the noun phrase is incorrectly formed; use “changes in the total population” or “how the population changed.” The phrase “of the New York City” uses an unnecessary article, and “which are five” is an awkward clause construction. The second sentence also ends with a colon followed by a quoted list, rather than integrating the list smoothly into the sentence. Because the response is very short, it shows little range of sentence structures. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then add clauses to compare trends and figures.

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