Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-15
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)
In the following; table its summarize the information of the population of new york city and other district from year 1800 to 200.In first we have the table in which we have all five district population in year 1800 there are about 79,216 population. After that at year 1900 the population increse about 3,357,986 and total population become 3,437,202 in the year of 1900.
In the next year 2000 the population raises from 3,437,202 to 8,009,185 there almost 4,500,000 difference from 1900 to 2000.
In the other table its shows the population of Manthan in the following table in year 1800 the percentage of population is 76% and in numbers its about 60,515 after that in the year 1900 the population increse 54% but in the year 2000 the percentage of population would decrease and it came to 19%.
On the other hand population of other district increase 24% in the year 1800 and there be a increase of population in 1900 would be 46% and after that the percentage of population become at 81% in year 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to cover the main features of the tables, reporting data for the total population and the districts (Manhattan and other districts) across the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. For instance, the student notes the total population in 1800 as 79,216 and reaching 8,009,185 in 2000. However, the task achievement is limited by awkward phrasing, imprecise calculations, and a lack of a clear overall summary or synthesis of the main trends. The description of the shift from Manhattan to the other districts is somewhat fragmented and lacks precise comparison between specific decades. To reach a higher band, the writer needs to provide a clearer overview of the main developments and present the data with greater accuracy and structure.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The organisation of the text is basic. While there is a loose chronological progression starting with the introduction of the first table, followed by the year 2000, and then moving to the second table, the paragraphing is very poor. The entire response consists of only four overly dense blocks of text that do not follow standard essay structure. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes inaccurate, such as 'In first we have the table' and 'In the next year 2000'. Referencing is also weak, making it difficult to follow the progression of ideas smoothly. The flow of information is frequently interrupted by punctuation errors and run-on sentences, restricting the text to a Band 4 level in this category.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, relying on simple words like 'table', 'population', 'district', and 'year'. There are numerous lexical errors and unnatural collocations throughout the text, such as 'table its summarize', 'the population increse', and 'population of Manthan' (Manhattan). Attempts to use less common vocabulary are absent, and spelling errors ('increse' for increase, 'raises' for rises) detract from the overall quality. The range of vocabulary is barely adequate to communicate the basic meaning of the visual data, corresponding to a Band 4 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The grammatical structure of the response is extremely weak, dominated by simple sentences and frequent basic errors. There are numerous run-on sentences and comma splices, such as 'In first we have the table in which we have all five district population in year 1800 there are about 79,216 population.' Tense consistency is poorly handled, shifting inappropriately between present and past contexts (e.g., 'its summarize', 'increse', 'would decrease'). Punctuation and capitalization are largely neglected throughout the text (e.g., starting sentences without proper capitalization and omitting apostrophes). These frequent grammatical errors frequently impede communication and place the response firmly at Band 4.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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