Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-04

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 table chart illustrate the detail of total population of first New York City and the second and third shows the percentage of other five districtscity between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, the highest population is in 2000 and the lowest population is in 1800.

In ,2000 there is the largest population about 8009,185 which makes 100% ,in 1900 its 3437,202 which makes also 100%,and in 1800 its 79216 which makes alo 100 %.

It can be seen that 2000 the population has rapidly increased which may occur in the future.In 1800 the population has little bit .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the broad trend that New York City’s population was highest in 2000 and lowest in 1800, and you include the total figures for all three years. However, the response gives almost no account of the district data, which is central to the task: Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19%, while the other four districts’ share rose from 24% to 81%. The claim that each year’s total “makes 100%” does not provide a meaningful comparison, and the final statement about future growth is unsupported by the tables. The response is also 53 words below the required minimum, leaving the summary substantially incomplete. Select and compare the main changes in both tables, and avoid predictions not shown by the data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, with an opening statement, an overview beginning “Overall,” and a further paragraph containing figures. This gives the reader some indication of the intended structure. However, the progression is limited: the final paragraph repeats the general population trend rather than developing the district comparison, and the short, incomplete final sentence (“In 1800 the population has little bit”) interrupts the flow. Linking within the figures paragraph is also difficult to follow because several years and percentages are joined in one run-on sequence. Use separate sentences to compare the total population and the changing shares of Manhattan and the other districts, with clear references such as “By contrast” and “Meanwhile.”

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a small set of relevant terms, including “population,” “percentage,” “districts,” and “increased,” so the general subject is recognisable. However, the range is narrow and some word combinations or forms are inaccurate, such as “table chart,” “the detail of total population,” and “rapidly increased.” “The other five districts” is also unclear because Manhattan is one of the five districts, while the table groups the other four together. Repetition of “population” and “makes” limits precision, and spelling errors such as “alo” and the joined form “districtscity” reduce clarity. Practise standard data-reporting phrases such as “the population stood at,” “accounted for,” and “the proportion declined,” and use the district names accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt a few sentence forms, including an overview sentence and a sentence beginning “It can be seen that,” but most structures are simple or incomplete, and errors frequently affect clarity. For example, “The table chart illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, while “the second and third shows” also lacks agreement and a clear subject. The sequence “In ,2000 there is …, in 1900 its …, and in 1800 its …” has faulty punctuation and inconsistent sentence structure. Tense and article use are also weak, as in “the population has rapidly increased” when describing completed historical data. Build accurate past-tense sentences, check singular and plural subjects, and use full stops to separate comparisons.

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