Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-05

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 5.0)

the first table illustrate that the populaton in new york city from 1800 to 2000 in five districts indicates that in 1800 the total popuation was 79216 and in 1900 its almost double around [redacted phone] and in 2000 it is three time increases to [redacted phone].the table indicats that increase in the number of years opulation is also increasing drastically. in the second table we have the data of manhattan district the table includes the population from 1800 to 2000 including the percentage of total population in this table the percentage of total population in manhattan in 1800 in 76% and in 1900 its 54% and in 2000 its 19%. the third table indicates the percentage of populaion in the other four districts in 1800 the population percentage is 24% in 1900 it was 46% and in 2000 its 81% indicating that population percentage increased from 24 to 81 in 3 years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that New York City’s population grew substantially and that the other districts’ share rose while Manhattan’s fell. The percentages you report for both groups match the tables. However, the account is only partly complete: it omits the actual population figures for Manhattan and the other districts, and the overview is not clearly separated from the details. There is also a serious misreading when you say the total population was “almost double” in 1900; it had risen from 79,216 to 3,437,202. The phrase “in 3 years” is inaccurate: the data span 200 years. Select the main changes accurately and compare the districts’ population counts as well as their shares.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows a basic sequence, moving from the citywide table to Manhattan and then the other districts, so the reader can identify which data are being discussed. However, it is presented as one long paragraph, with no distinct overview, and progression within the sentences is often unclear. Repeated openings such as “the table indicates” and “the table includes” make the linking mechanical rather than helping the comparison. Some references are also imprecise, particularly “in this table” and “in 3 years.” Organise the response into an introduction, a concise overview, and detail paragraphs, then use clear links such as “by contrast” to show how Manhattan differs from the other districts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “total population,” “percentage,” and “increased,” and the reader can generally understand the topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “three time increases” and “population percentage increased.” Repetition of “table,” “population,” and “indicates” also restricts precision. Spelling errors, including “populaton,” “popuation,” and “populaion,” are noticeable and reduce the accuracy of the report. Build a more varied set of data-reporting expressions, such as “accounted for,” “rose to,” and “declined,” and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to connect information in longer sentences, for example by using “indicating that,” but most sentence structures are simple or joined in ways that are difficult to control. Errors in verb forms and agreement occur in phrases such as “the first table illustrate” and “the percentage … in 1800 in 76%.” Punctuation is also weak: several sentences run together without spaces after full stops, and the response lacks clear sentence boundaries. These problems sometimes make the relationships between figures harder to follow. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries first, then use a controlled mix of simple sentences and comparisons with “while” or “whereas.”

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