Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 following table chart describe the information about the population New York City from 1800 to 2000. Whereas, the second and third table illustarte chnages in pupulation of the five districts of the city over the same period.

The highest propotion that is covered by 2000 at 8,009,185 and the loweest value that was covered in 1800 by 79,216.

What's more the toal population in Manhattan was 54% in 19th. However, in other districts with 81% covered in 2000.

Overall, the chart gives the information about the highest population show in 2000, while lower population covered in eighteeth by five states.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the broadest trend correctly: New York City’s population was highest in 2000 (8,009,185) and lowest in 1800 (79,216). You also mention Manhattan’s 54% share in 1900 and the other districts’ 81% share in 2000. However, the response reports very few of the table’s key changes, and the overview is unclear: “highest proportion” is used for a total population figure, while the district comparison is not explained. The claim that Manhattan’s “total population was 54%” confuses its percentage share with its population. The response is also 49 words below the required minimum, leaving the task only minimally addressed. To improve, compare Manhattan’s rise and subsequent fall with the strong growth of the other districts, using accurate figures and a clear overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: the opening introduces the tables, and “What’s more” and “Overall” signal a further point and a summary. However, the ideas do not develop in a clear sequence, and the final overview largely repeats the opening comparison rather than bringing the main trends together. The sentence beginning “The highest proportion” is difficult to follow because it combines a population total with language about a proportion. “Whereas” also starts a fragment rather than connecting two complete clauses. Use separate paragraphs for an introduction, an overview, and supporting comparisons, and make each sentence focus on one clear relationship between the figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some task-related vocabulary, including “population,” “districts,” “percentage,” and “covered,” so the topic is recognisable. However, the range is basic and several word choices or spelling errors make the meaning less clear. “Highest proportion” does not accurately describe the city’s total population, and “covered” is not a natural way to report population figures or shares. There are also noticeable misspellings such as “illustarte,” “chnages,” “pupulation,” “propotion,” and “toal.” Aim for precise reporting language and check spelling carefully. Terms such as “accounted for,” “population share,” “increased,” and “declined” would help describe the data more accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt a few different sentence patterns, including a contrast with “Whereas” and a sentence beginning “Overall,” but control is uneven and the range remains limited. In “The following table chart describe,” the subject and verb do not agree, and the noun phrase is not formed clearly. “Whereas, the second and third table…” is an incomplete clause, while “the toal population in Manhattan was 54% in 19th” lacks a clear grammatical relationship between the population and its share. The final sentence also has an unclear structure. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use accurate forms such as “Manhattan accounted for 54% of the total in 1900.”

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