Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-19

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 table illtustrates the information related to the total popultion of new york city from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show changes in the population of the five destricts of the city(manhattan, brooklyn, bronx, queens, staten,island) over the same period.

The first table show to new york city( all five districts),in 1800,the number of population was 79,216. Moreover, in 1900 population was 3,437,202. However, in 2000, it population was 8,009,185.

In 1800, Manhattan population was 65,515. But it total population was 76%.Moreover,in 1900, it population was 1,850,096.But, it total popultion was 54%.Furthermore, in 2000, it population was 1,538,096.However it total population was 19%.

In 1800, the number of other population had 18,701.But, total populatin was 24%.In 1900, it popultai

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the subject and report several relevant figures, including the city’s total population in all three years and Manhattan’s changing share. However, the response is incomplete: it stops partway through the figures for the other districts and gives no overview of the main trends or comparisons. There is also a key data error: Manhattan had 60,515 people in 1800, not 65,515; the 1900 figure is 1,850,093, not 1,850,096. The response contains 90 words, below the required 150, and 34 words copied from the prompt were excluded from that count. To improve, complete the comparison through 2000 and summarise the overall shift from Manhattan to the other districts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response follows a basic sequence, moving from the city-wide totals to Manhattan and then to the other districts, so the reader can see the intended organisation. Paragraph breaks also separate these topics. However, the progression is not completed because the final sentence breaks off, and there is no overview to guide the reader through the main pattern. Linking words such as “Moreover,” “But,” “However,” and “Furthermore” are repeated mechanically and sometimes do not express a clear contrast. For example, “Moreover” introduces another year’s figure rather than a distinct supporting point. Use a short overview, group related comparisons, and connect figures with clearer references and fewer repetitive transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “total,” and “districts,” and the meaning of many figures is still understandable. However, the range is narrow and several words are repeatedly used without precise collocations, as in “the number of population” and “other population.” Spelling errors such as “illtustrates,” “popultion,” “destricts,” and “popultai” also reduce accuracy and make parts of the response harder to follow. Some place names are inconsistently capitalised, including “new york city” and “manhattan.” Build a small set of accurate expressions for describing population data, and proofread spelling and proper nouns before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

Most sentences are short and follow a simple subject–verb pattern, such as “In 1800, Manhattan population was…” This gives the response a basic grammatical framework, but the range is limited and errors recur. Examples include “The first table show,” where the verb does not agree with the singular subject, and “it population was,” where the possessive form is needed. The sentence “But it total population was 76%” also lacks a clear grammatical relationship between the population and its percentage. Punctuation is inconsistent, with missing spaces after full stops and commas. Practise accurate comparison structures, possessives, and complete sentences, then check agreement and punctuation.

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