Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-08
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)
Tables illustrates the information about total population in new York city from 1800 to 2000 and changes in polulation of five districts of same city.
Overall,total population is increasing rapidly in new york but distribution of population is changing with time, population in manhattan is decreasing.
to begain with, net population of New York is increasing rapidly from last two centuries.Starting from 79,216 in 1800 with growtth of 500% hitting 3,437,202 in following century and
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the task achievement score. Because the essay is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, it fails to provide a full overview or a detailed analysis of the data provided in the tables. While the introduction attempts to identify the topic, the lack of development means the main features are not adequately reported or compared. To improve, you must ensure you complete the task by covering all data sets and meeting the word count requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.5
The response is too short to demonstrate effective paragraphing or a logical progression of ideas. While there is a basic attempt at an introduction and an overview, the abrupt ending prevents the development of a coherent structure. Cohesive devices are minimal, and the flow is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the text. To improve, focus on structuring your response into a clear introduction, an overview of the main trends, and two body paragraphs that group data logically, using linking words to connect your points.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'increasing rapidly'. There are also errors in word formation and spelling, such as 'polulation' instead of 'population' and 'growtth' instead of 'growth'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of verbs and adverbs to describe trends, such as 'surged', 'fluctuated', or 'experienced a steady decline', and ensure you proofread for spelling errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The grammar contains several errors, including missing articles ('Tables illustrates' should be 'The tables illustrate') and incorrect preposition usage ('from last two centuries' should be 'over the last two centuries'). The sentence structures are simple, and the incomplete final sentence makes it impossible to assess your ability to use complex structures effectively. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Practice writing complete, complex sentences to demonstrate a wider grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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