Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-18

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 given table illustrate the total population changes in the new yark city over a 20 decades.

Overall consideration of five districts located in a new yark city population is rapidly increased in the year of 1800 to 2000, population measured in thousands.

firstly consideration of the manhattan district in the year of 1800 total population of the this place was 76%. after a 10 decade passed population was dramatically increased by 54% of the total citizens, another 10 decades passed out publics slightly increased by 19% at the end of the year 2000.

secondly consideration of another 4 districts like brooklyn, bronx, queens, staten island in the year 1800 people 24% are their further a 10 decades

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the broad topic and mention Manhattan and the other four districts, but the response reports the data inaccurately and does not provide a clear overview of the main changes. For example, Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 54% and then 19%; it did not increase, as “dramatically increased by 54%” suggests. The other districts’ share rose from 24% to 46% and then 81%, but this trend is left unfinished. The total population figures are not reported, and the response ends mid-sentence. The required minimum of 150 words is not met, which further limits the coverage. To improve, give a concise overview, accurately compare the figures across all three years, and complete the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, with an opening statement followed by sections introduced by “firstly” and “secondly.” This gives the reader some indication of the order of ideas. However, there is no clear overall progression: the first paragraph is vague, the district comparisons are not completed, and the response ends abruptly at “further a 10 decades.” Linking phrases such as “after a 10 decade passed” are repetitive and do not clearly connect the data. Paragraphing is also limited, and references such as “this place” are not precise. Organise the response into an introduction, a clear overview, and a complete comparison of the figures, using linking expressions only where they clarify relationships.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, with repeated use of “consideration,” “population,” and “year.” Some wording makes the intended meaning difficult to follow, particularly “overall consideration” and “another 10 decades passed out publics.” There are also spelling and word-choice problems, including “new yark” and “citizens” where a neutral term such as “residents” would be more suitable. The response does attempt to describe change with “rapidly increased” and “dramatically,” but these choices are not always accurate or natural for the data. Build a more precise range for describing tables, such as “rose,” “declined,” “accounted for,” and “share,” and check spelling and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response relies mainly on simple sentence patterns, and frequent errors in sentence construction, agreement, articles, and tense sometimes obscure the meaning. For example, “The given table illustrate” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “in the year of 1800 total population of the this place was 76%” has an unclear structure and incorrect article use. The sentence beginning “after a 10 decade passed” is also difficult to parse, and the final sentence is incomplete. There is an attempt to use time clauses and sequencing, but these structures are not controlled consistently. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use past-tense reporting consistently when describing the historical figures.

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