Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-12

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)

These tables illustrate changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000, with changes in the population of its five districts of the city, that are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island over the same period.

Overall, it is clear that New York City experienced a significant population growth over the years. Manhattan, compared to other districts united, showed a substantial gradual drop throughout the three years. Whereas, the districs showes a significant r

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the subject and period, and your overview correctly notes substantial growth in New York City’s total population and a decline in Manhattan’s share. However, the response stops before completing the comparison: “Whereas, the districs showes a significant r” gives no usable information about the other districts, and there are no supporting figures or comparisons across the three years. The task is therefore addressed only minimally, with the main trends left undeveloped. The response also contains 66 words, well below the required 150; 13 words copied from the prompt were excluded from that count. To improve, complete the overview and report key figures, such as Manhattan’s fall from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000, while the other districts rose to 6,471,089.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an introductory sentence is followed by a separate overview paragraph, and “Overall” signals that the second paragraph summarises the main picture. This gives the reader a starting structure. However, the response ends mid-sentence, so there is no progression into details or a concluding comparison. The use of “Whereas” after a full stop also leaves the contrast incomplete, and the relationship between Manhattan and the other districts is not explained. Because the response is so short, cohesion is limited and the ideas are not developed into a coherent report. Complete the contrast and use a clear sequence: introduction, overview, then paragraphs comparing the population figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some suitable task vocabulary, including “total population,” “significant population growth,” and “substantial … drop,” which communicates the broad trends. The range is nevertheless limited because the response contains almost no detailed reporting language, and the final phrase is cut off at “significant r.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice problems: “districs” is misspelled, “showes” is not the correct form, and “other districts united” is an unnatural way to express a comparison. These errors make parts of the text less clear. Build a wider set of accurate terms for describing figures and proportions, and check spelling and collocations before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts more than simple sentences, for example by using a relative clause in “the five districts … that are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.” The opening sentence is understandable, but its structure is awkward and repetitive (“of the city” follows “New York City”), and the clause is not smoothly integrated. In the overview, “Manhattan, compared to other districts united, showed…” has an unclear grammatical relationship, while “Whereas” introduces a dependent contrast that is left unfinished. The final fragment prevents the reader from seeing a complete sentence. Aim for complete, controlled comparisons, such as “Manhattan’s population fell, whereas the combined population of the other districts rose.”

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

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