Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-08

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)

in the given table is the total population of new york city from 1800 to 2000. overall new yok city has total population of 79216 in 1800.

at 1900 population has increas drasticali to [redacted phone] . after 1900 to 2000 population is rise to [redacted phone].

on manhattan , at 1800 average total population of 76% which is 60515. on 1900 population of [redacted phone] which around 54% is show ,

at 200 population reach [redacted phone] or 19%

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the overall rise in New York City’s population and report several accurate figures for Manhattan, including its declining share from 76% to 19%. However, the response addresses the task only minimally: it omits the other districts entirely and gives little comparison between the two population groups. The statement that the population rose to “800918” in 2000 is inaccurate; the table gives 8,009,185. There is also no clear overview of the key contrast: Manhattan’s population peaked in 1900 and then fell, while the other districts grew substantially. The response is 65 words, below the required 150, so important features are left undeveloped. Include the main trends and comparisons, supported by accurate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic sequence from the citywide figures to Manhattan, and time markers such as “in 1800,” “at 1900,” and “at 200” help indicate chronology. However, the response is not divided into clear paragraphs, and the ideas do not develop into a coherent summary of both tables. The opening repeats a figure rather than establishing a useful overview, while the final Manhattan figure is left without a concluding comparison. Some links between clauses are unclear, as in “after 1900 to 2000 population is rise.” Organise the response into an introduction, an overview, and detail paragraphs, grouping the city total and district trends logically. Use linking phrases to show contrast and change, rather than relying mainly on year labels.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, with a narrow range for describing table data. You use relevant terms such as “total population” and “percentage,” and “increas” appears to be an attempt to describe a trend. However, several word choices or forms make the report difficult to read, including “average total population” for a population share and “population is rise.” Spelling errors such as “new yok” and “drasticali” also reduce clarity. Use standard data-reporting expressions such as “increased sharply,” “accounted for,” “population share,” and “declined.” Check spelling carefully and choose terms that distinguish an absolute population from its percentage of the city total.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

The response relies on short, incomplete or poorly controlled sentence patterns, and frequent grammatical errors sometimes distort meaning. For example, “in the given table is the total population” lacks a clear subject and verb structure, while “after 1900 to 2000 population is rise” has an incorrect verb form and unclear time relationship. Articles and sentence openings are also inconsistent, and the final phrase “at 200 population reach” lacks appropriate tense and sentence completion. There is little evidence of varied sentence structures. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and past-tense verb, for example, “The population rose from … in 1900 to … in 2000.” Then combine related comparisons using accurate clauses and punctuation.

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