Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-14

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)

The first table displays changes in the total population growth from 1800 to 2000 in all five districts of New York City, while the second and third tables show rate of changes in the population of the five districts of New York: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the period 1800 to 2000.

Overall,the first table depicts the collectively total population of all 5 districts of New York over the year 1800,1900 and 2000 and the population increased eventually and greatest in the year 2000.On the other,table second and third shows the total population and its rate of all the five districts seperatetly

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the broad subject and report the main overall direction: New York’s population increased, reaching its highest level in 2000. However, the response does not provide the key figures or meaningful comparisons needed to summarise the tables. In particular, it omits the rise from 79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000, and the important shift from Manhattan holding 76% of the population in 1800 to the other districts holding 81% in 2000. The final sentence is incomplete as a summary and gives no supporting details. The response is also 87 words, below the required 150; develop the overview and report selected figures and changes for each period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening sentence introduces the tables, followed by an overview beginning with “Overall”. This gives the reader a simple starting structure. However, the response ends after two sentences, so there is no clear progression through the data or separate reporting of the main comparisons. The second sentence is difficult to follow, particularly “On the other, table second and third shows…”, and the relationship between the tables is not explained clearly. Use distinct paragraphs for the introduction, overview and key details, then connect comparisons with clear references such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile”.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant topic vocabulary, including “total population”, “districts” and “increased”, so the general subject is understandable. However, the range is limited and several phrases are awkward or imprecise, such as “rate of changes in the population” and “collectively total population”. “Greatest in the year 2000” communicates the intended idea but is less natural than describing the population as reaching its highest level. Spelling errors such as “seperatetly” also reduce accuracy. Build a more precise range for describing table data, including terms for proportions, rises, falls and comparisons, and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to form longer sentences using “while” and “and”, and the general meaning can be understood. However, control is uneven: “the second and third tables show rate of changes” has an article and number problem, while “table second and third shows” has incorrect word order and subject–verb agreement. The overview also runs several clauses together without clear punctuation, as in “increased eventually and greatest in the year 2000.On the other”. There is little variety beyond these extended sentences, and the final sentence is not grammatically complete. Practise accurate simple comparison sentences first, then combine them with clauses using “while” or “whereas”; use full stops and spaces consistently.

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