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 population of New York city from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables shows changes in the population of the five districts of the city ( Manhattan, Brooklyn,Bronx,Queens,Staten Island) over the same period.

The first table show, the number of population of New York (all five districts).In 1800, the number of population was 79,216.Moreover, in 1900, population was 3,437,202.But, in 2000, it population was 8,009,185.

In 1800, Manhattan poplation was 60,515.But, it total poplation was 76%.Moreover,in 1900, it population was 1,850,093. But, it total population was 54%. However, in 2000, it population was 1,538,096. But, it total population was 19%.

In 1800,other districts(Brooklyn,Bronx, Queens,Staten Island) population was 18,701.But it total population was 24. Moreover, in 1900, it population was [redacted phone].B

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the subject and report several accurate figures, including the city’s totals in 1800, 1900 and 2000 and Manhattan’s population and shares. However, the response is incomplete: it ends mid-sentence at “1587109.B,” so the 1900 and 2000 figures for the other districts are not properly reported. There is also no clear overview of the main trends, such as the city’s strong overall growth and the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts. The response contains 96 words, below the required 150; 35 words copied from the prompt were excluded from that count. Develop the comparison and complete the summary with the key changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic sequence: it introduces the tables, then discusses the city total, Manhattan and the other districts. This gives the reader some sense of how the information is organised. However, progression is limited because the figures are mostly listed one by one rather than grouped into a clear comparison, and the final paragraph breaks off mid-sentence. Connect related changes—for example, Manhattan’s declining share alongside the growth of the other districts—and use a concise overview before the details. “Moreover,” “But,” and “However” recur mechanically, and some punctuation runs words together, as in “Moreover,in 1900.” Clear paragraphing and more purposeful linking would make the report easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use relevant basic terms such as “population,” “districts,” and “total,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the vocabulary is narrow and repetitive, with “population” repeated frequently and “it population” used where a more precise reference is needed. Some word choices and forms are inaccurate, including “number of population” and the misspelling “poplation”; “illtustrates” is also misspelled. The repeated “But” and “Moreover” do little to express the specific relationships between the figures. Build a small range of accurate reporting language, such as “rose,” “accounted for,” and “share,” and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

Most sentences use a simple subject–verb pattern, and the figures can often be understood, but grammatical control is inconsistent. There are agreement errors in “the second and third tables shows” and “the first table show,” and the sentence “But, in 2000, it population was…” has an unclear pronoun and faulty construction. Several sentences are joined or punctuated awkwardly, for example “In 1800, the number of population was 79,216.Moreover, in 1900…” There is little variety in sentence structure, and the final sentence is incomplete. Practise accurate simple comparisons first, then combine them with controlled clauses using “while” or “whereas”; check agreement, pronoun reference and sentence boundaries.

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