Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-13

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 first table illustrates the growth in total population of New York city while the second and third tables demonstrate the overall population in each district of New York from 1800 to 2000.

overall. there is robust growth

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the topic and period, and its statement that there was “robust growth” is broadly supported by the rise in the city’s population. However, it does not summarise the tables: there are no figures, comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts, or clear account of how their shares changed. In particular, Manhattan’s population rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 in 2000, while the other districts grew substantially and made up 81% of the total by 2000. The response is also far below the required 150 words, leaving the task only minimally addressed. Select the main trends and support them with accurate data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic attempt to introduce the tables and identify a general trend, but the response does not develop into a logically organised summary. The second line, “overall. there is robust growth,” is disconnected from the opening and does not explain which population grew or how the districts compare. The lowercase start after a full stop also interrupts the presentation. Use a clear sequence: introduce the data, give an overview of the main changes, then compare the key figures in a small number of organised paragraphs. Linking phrases such as “by contrast” and “by 2000” would help show relationships between the trends.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some relevant vocabulary, including “population,” “district,” and “growth,” and “robust” shows an attempt to use a more precise descriptive term. However, the range is very limited for describing the tables, and “overall population in each district” is imprecise because the second table groups four districts together. “Demonstrate” is also less natural here than “show” or “present.” To communicate the data effectively, use terms for change and comparison, such as “rose,” “declined,” “accounted for,” and “the remaining districts.” More varied, accurate vocabulary would make the trends clearer and avoid relying on a single general phrase.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The opening sentence is understandable and uses a subordinate clause beginning with “while,” showing a basic attempt to connect information. However, the response offers too little language to demonstrate a range of sentence structures or consistent control. The fragment “overall. there is robust growth” is incorrectly punctuated: “Overall” should begin a new sentence with a capital letter, and the statement needs to be connected to a clear subject, such as the city’s population. The opening also needs an article in “the total population.” Build complete sentences with accurate punctuation and vary simple statements with comparisons, for example, “Although Manhattan grew initially, its population later fell.”

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