Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-23

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 three table below compares the changes in sum total of population of new york city amd ther five district cities fro, 1800 to 2000.

The first table below compares the changes in the total pop[ulation of new york city , while the second and third table depicts the changes in poulation between Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx ,Queens,Staten Island from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, it is evident that

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 2.5

The response identifies the subject and time span, but it does not meaningfully summarise the tables. The opening repeats the task description, and “Overall, it is evident that” is left unfinished, so there is no overview of the key trends: for example, the city’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share increased. No figures or comparisons are reported. The response is also 83 words below the required minimum, leaving the task substantially incomplete. To improve, provide a complete overview and select a few accurate figures to compare the city total with Manhattan and the other districts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: two introductory sentences are followed by a separate overview paragraph. However, the first two sentences largely repeat the same information, so the writing does not progress from introduction to summary. The final phrase, “Overall, it is evident that,” signals a new point but gives no information, leaving the response without a completed conclusion or logical development. Cohesive links are minimal, and the relationship between the three tables is not explained. Use one concise introduction, then a complete overview, followed by a paragraph grouping the main comparisons. This would create clearer progression and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some task-relevant vocabulary, including “total population,” “districts,” and “compares,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several choices or spelling errors make the opening harder to read, such as “sum total,” “district cities,” “amd,” and “poulation.” “Changes in population between” is also imprecise for describing figures across years. Aim for accurate, natural collocations such as “population of New York City” and “population figures for the districts.” The repeated use of “table” and “changes” also limits variety; terms such as “share,” “proportion,” and “rose” would help describe the data more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a sentence with “while,” but control is inconsistent. In “The three table below compares,” the plural subject requires “tables,” and the verb should agree with that plural subject. In the next sentence, “the second and third table depicts” also has a number-agreement error; “tables depict” is needed. The sentence beginning “Overall, it is evident that” is incomplete because the dependent clause is not followed by the point being made. Punctuation and spacing around commas are also inconsistent. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and completing each sentence, especially after introductory phrases such as “Overall.”

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