Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-26

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)

This graph show us the diffrenet ups and down in the population in uk since for [redacted phone]

In 1800 the persentage of people is 79,219

However,they will increase in 1900by 4.[redacted phone]

sicne they will increase more in 2000

by [redacted phone]

The second graph show us the persentage number of increaseing population in Manhattan the like 1800 the persentage

is 76%and in 1900 they go down by 54%and in 2000 ther remain only 19%

In the Three and final graph the other districs

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The response identifies some relevant features, including Manhattan’s share falling from 76% to 54% and then 19%, and the city’s population increasing by 2000. However, it does not provide a clear overview of the main changes or adequately summarise the tables: the figures for the other districts are left unfinished, and the total population figures are misreported or unclear (for example, “79,219” instead of 79,216, and “4.42642.418” for 1900). It also refers to the city as being in the UK, although the task concerns New York City. The response is substantially below the required 150 words, which limits the detail and comparisons it can present. Include an accurate overview and report the key changes across all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to move through the information in sequence, using “In 1800,” “However,” and references to the second and final graphs. This gives the reader some sense of the order of the tables. However, the response is not organised into clear paragraphs, and the final section stops before explaining the other districts’ figures. Connections between ideas are also unclear: “However” does not introduce a clear contrast, while “sicne they will increase more in 2000” is difficult to follow. Use a short introduction, an overview, and logically grouped details, with linking phrases that accurately show comparison or change.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a few task-related terms, such as “population,” “percentage,” and “increase,” and attempts to describe change with “go down” and “remain.” However, the vocabulary is limited and some choices are inaccurate or unsuitable for an academic summary. “Graph” is used even though the visuals are tables, and “the persentage of people is 79,219” confuses a population count with a percentage. Spelling errors such as “diffrenet,” “persentage,” “sicne,” and “districs” also reduce clarity. Build a small set of accurate terms for describing population totals, proportions, rises, and falls, and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts simple statements and some connected clauses, for example, “In 1800 the persentage of people is 79,219” and “in 1900 they go down by 54%.” However, sentence structures are repetitive, and control of tense and agreement is inconsistent. Since the tables show past years, use past forms such as “was” and “fell”; “they go down” does not match the time period or the singular subject “percentage.” Several lines are fragments or lack clear sentence boundaries, particularly “In the Three and final graph the other districs.” Practise complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use consistent past-tense forms when reporting historical data.

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