Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-22

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 4.0)

The given table illustrates eviden regarding tatal population of new york city from 1800 to 2000. the second and third table illustrates change inthe population of five districts of city same period.

on the whole its clear that new york city [all five districts ] year 2000 had the superme figure while year 1800 populatin had the lower most .

it can also be seen that most figres climbs/ drops

In the beginning new york city year 1800 population was 79.216 and 1900 population 3,437,202 and 2000 population is very increased 8,009,185 was regarding all five districts.And the district of Manhattan year 1800 population 60,515 as percentage of tatal population 76% in 1900 population [redacted phone] is 54% and 2000 population1,538,096 is lowest 19%

after that it rises / declines to 2000.

similarly other districts [ brooklyn , bronx , queens , staten island

at the rose /fell to is few year 1800 to 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and note that Manhattan’s share fell, which are relevant main features. However, the report is incomplete: the overview is vague (“most figures climbs/drops”), and the final comparison of the other districts is unfinished, so their major growth and rise to 81% of the total in 2000 are not clearly reported. There is also a data error: Manhattan’s 1900 population is written as “1850.093” rather than 1,850,093. The response contains 141 words, below the required 150; 13 words copied from the prompt were excluded from the count. Add a clear overview and complete the comparison using the key figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, moving from an introduction and overview to figures for the city and then the districts. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the overview is unclear and the final paragraph breaks off after “similarly other districts”. Linking phrases such as “In the beginning” and “after that” do not establish clear relationships between the data, and the slash alternatives (“climbs/drops”, “rises/declines”) make the meaning uncertain. Separate the overview from the detailed comparisons, group related figures together, and use precise links such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile” to show how the districts changed.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some task-relevant vocabulary, including “population”, “percentage” and “districts”, and attempts to describe change. However, the range is basic and repetitive, while several word choices or spellings make the meaning hard to understand: “superme figure”, “lower most”, “figres” and “at the rose/fell”. The repeated alternatives with slashes also show that the writer has not selected precise language. Use standard forms and choose verbs that match the data: the city’s population “increased”, while Manhattan’s population and share “declined” after 1900. Check spelling and use accurate collocations such as “accounted for 76% of the total population”.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt to form longer sentences and include time references, but grammatical control is inconsistent. For example, “the second and third table illustrates change” has problems with number agreement and sentence structure, while “Manhattan year 1800 population 60,515 as percentage…” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence. Tense and verb forms are also unreliable, as in “most figures climbs/drops” and “population is very increased”. Punctuation and capitalisation are not controlled consistently, which further obscures sentence boundaries. Practise writing complete subject–verb sentences, maintain past tense when describing the historical figures, and use simple comparative structures accurately before attempting longer sentences.

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