Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-24

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 first table illustrates changes in total poulation from 1800 to 2000 in the New York city. The second table tells us about the contribuation in overall population by Manhattan district only. The third table gives information about contribution in total population by other four districts ( Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island).

The Manhattan district contributed maximum from 1800 as compared to other districts that contributed more in 2000. The least contribution made be only district is in 2000 as others made in 1800.

In 1800, total population of city was 79216 and only Manhattan district was 69515 which is 76% of total and rest is made by

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the tables’ subject and make a relevant comparison: Manhattan accounts for the largest share in 1800, while the other districts dominate by 2000. However, the report is incomplete and does not provide a clear overview of the main changes across all three years. It gives only one detailed figure, and that figure is inaccurate: Manhattan’s 1800 population was 60,515, not 69,515. The response also stops mid-sentence after “rest is made by,” leaving the comparison unfinished. The required minimum length is not met, which contributes to the limited coverage. To improve, complete the report and include the city’s substantial overall growth, Manhattan’s decline after 1900, and the other districts’ rise in both population and share.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response by introducing the tables and then moving to comparisons and figures. The opening sentences make the topic understandable, and the reference to 1800 and 2000 gives the reader a broad direction. However, progression is weak because the comparison paragraph is unclear (“The least contribution made be only district is in 2000”) and the final sentence is unfinished. The response does not develop a sequence through the three years, and links between the total population and district figures are not established. Use separate paragraphs for an overview and the key details, and connect the years with clear transitions such as “By 1900” and “By 2000.” Ensure every sentence is complete and each comparison has an identifiable subject.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “total population,” “contributed,” “district,” and “as compared to,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are awkward, such as “contribuation in overall population,” “contribution in total population,” and “least contribution made.” These expressions make the intended comparisons harder to follow. There are also spelling errors in “poulation” and “contribuation,” and “New York city” should be written as “New York City.” Aim for precise reporting language, for example “accounted for,” “population share,” and “the remaining districts.” Check spelling and use collocations that describe proportions and changes naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response uses mostly simple sentence patterns, with a few attempts to combine information, as in “The first table illustrates changes …” and “The second table tells us…”. Some sentences communicate their basic meaning, but grammatical control is inconsistent. For example, “The least contribution made be only district is in 2000” has a faulty structure, and “which is 76% of total” lacks an article and a clear noun reference. The final sentence is incomplete, so the relationship between Manhattan and the remaining population is not expressed. There is little variety in sentence forms, and punctuation around the district list is uneven. Practise complete comparative sentences with accurate articles and verb forms, such as “Manhattan accounted for 76% of the city’s population in 1800.”

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