Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-21

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)

First of all, we known that population of the world increasing day by day. If we look at past three 20 to 40 years.

We have some information about the population in New York. By the century its population also increases with high rate. We clearly see that in 1800 A.D the population in New York were 79,216 and after the one century it increased to 3,437,202 which are a very large number of populations. We also have some population stats of New York city which are 8,009,185, as it’s also a very large number of populations, as we clearly see that population in increasing with high rate.

As we also have population stats of some other districts like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx etc. We clearly see that population in that areas also increases with a great rate like the others. So, this all shows the stats of population these areas and also, we can see that how population is increases rapidly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies the overall rise in New York City’s population and accurately reports the three citywide figures: 79,216 in 1800, 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 2000. However, it responds only minimally to the tables about the districts. It says their populations increased, but does not report the key contrast: Manhattan’s population rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 and then fell to 1,538,096 by 2000, while the other districts grew to 6,471,089 and accounted for 81% of the total. The claim that all areas increased “with a great rate” misses this distinction. Focus on the main comparisons and include a concise overview grounded in the data rather than general comments about population growth.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response has a basic sequence, moving from a general opening to citywide figures and then to the districts. Some linking phrases, such as “after the one century” and “As we also have,” signal transitions, but the progression is not consistently clear or purposeful. The opening about world population is unrelated to the tables, and the final sentences repeat the idea that population increased without adding a new comparison. The district information is also grouped vaguely rather than organised around the contrasting trends. A clearer structure would use an introduction, an overview of the main changes, and a paragraph comparing Manhattan with the other districts. Use references such as “by contrast” to make those relationships explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

Vocabulary is basic and repetitive, with frequent reliance on “population,” “clearly see,” “large number,” and “increases with high rate.” These phrases communicate the general topic, but they are imprecise or unnatural for describing statistical data; for example, “a very large number of populations” does not clearly express a population total. There are some relevant terms, including “districts” and “stats,” but “stats” is informal and the response lacks language for describing changes and proportions precisely. Use a wider set of accurate chart-reporting expressions, such as “rose,” “declined,” “accounted for,” and “share of the total,” while avoiding repeated evaluative phrases like “very large.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a few longer sentences, but grammatical control is inconsistent and the range remains limited. Errors include “we known,” “the population … were,” and “how population is increases,” involving verb forms, agreement and sentence construction. The opening fragment, “If we look at past three 20 to 40 years,” is incomplete and unclear, while several sentences are joined with “as” in ways that make their relationships difficult to follow. Basic meaning is often recoverable, especially in the sentences giving the citywide figures, but these recurring errors reduce clarity. Practise accurate simple past forms for historical data and build longer sentences from a clear main clause, checking agreement and verb forms before adding extra information.

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