Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-09

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 provide the total population of new york city modify from 1800 to 2000. the second and third table show alter the five districts population in the city all the same period. Overall, it can be clearly seen they were many changes of population in the new york city and the population of manhattan was deline percentage while the other districts population increased.

In detail, in 1800 the population of new york city was 79216 started it. while 1900 new york city population inreased a 100 years in [redacted phone] they was a more differece population. next in 2000 the population of new york city was very increased as compared to both.

on the other hand,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the broad subject and report the total population figures for 1800 and 1900, while your overview notes that Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ population increased. However, the response is incomplete: it does not give the 2000 total, quantify the district changes, or compare Manhattan with the other districts using the table’s figures. The sentence “the population of new york city was very increased as compared to both” does not explain the final value or the trend clearly, and the response ends with “on the other hand,” without completing the comparison. The response is also 109 words, below the required 150; this leaves too little space to summarise the main features adequately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening, an overview beginning “Overall,” and a detail paragraph introduced by “In detail.” The years are presented in chronological order, which gives the limited information some sequence. However, progression is weak because the district data are not developed, and the final paragraph begins “on the other hand,” but contains no following idea. Some links are also unclear or mechanically used, such as “while 1900” and “next in 2000.” The opening repeats the task description rather than establishing a clear route through the key comparisons. To improve, use complete paragraphs for the overall trend and for the main comparisons, and connect each sentence explicitly to the previous one.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

Your vocabulary is basic and repetitive, with repeated use of “population” and general expressions such as “very increased” and “a more differece population.” Some wording shows an attempt to describe change, including “increased” and “percentage,” but inaccurate word choice and spelling often make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “modify” and “alter” do not naturally describe the tables’ information, while “deline percentage” does not clearly communicate that Manhattan’s share declined. Use precise trend language and check spelling, especially for key terms that carry the comparison. A wider set of accurate expressions for rises, falls, proportions and contrasts would make the summary clearer and more appropriate to an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response relies mainly on short, simple statements and shows little control of more varied sentence structures. Frequent errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence boundaries make several ideas hard to understand. For instance, “The first table provide” has incorrect subject–verb agreement, and “the population of new york city modify from 1800 to 2000” has an unsuitable verb form and an unclear construction. The sentence beginning “while 1900” is incomplete, and “in 3437202 they was a more differece population” does not form a clear grammatical statement. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, then combine related comparisons using accurate clauses.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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