Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-06

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 three tables demonstrate the changes in the total population of New York city and five different districts of the city from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, it can be observed that New york city had followed the increasing trend over the centuries. Meanwhile, Others districts were the highest population cities by end of the period.

Turning to the details, New york had the highest population in 18th century which was 79,216 . In the 19th and 20th centuries , populuse of new york increased significantly and reached at 3,437, 202 and 8,009, 185 respectively.

Movingfurther,initially, Manhattan city had recorded population at 76% before declining steadily to just 19 % by 2000 year. Apart from that, other districts of the New york people accounted at 24% .By end other century, other districts( br, Bronz, Queens climbed sharply to 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts. However, the response only partially covers the tables: it omits Manhattan’s actual population figures and the other districts’ population totals, and the comparison of the districts is not fully explained. The statement that the other districts were the “highest population cities” is unclear, since the table groups four districts together. Some details are also inaccurate or incomplete: Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19%, but the response does not report its 1900 share of 54%; the other districts rose from 24% to 81%, with 46% in 1900. The response is 129 words, below the 150-word minimum; the nine words copied from the prompt are excluded. Add the missing comparisons and develop the overview with accurate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two detail paragraphs. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and phrases such as “Overall” and “Turning to the details” signal changes in focus. However, progression is weakened by abrupt or incomplete statements, particularly “Meanwhile, Others districts were the highest population cities by end of the period” and the final sentence, which does not clearly explain the comparison. Linking expressions such as “Apart from that” and “Moving further” are not always used to show a precise relationship between the data. Organise the details in a clearer sequence, for example, total population first and then the changing shares and populations of Manhattan and the other districts, using transitions that accurately express contrast or change.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “increasing trend,” “declining steadily,” “increased significantly,” and “climbed sharply.” These choices show an attempt to vary language rather than repeat “increased.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, making parts of the report difficult to understand. “Populuse” is not the correct form, “highest population cities” does not describe the grouped districts accurately, and “other districts of the New york people accounted at 24%” is awkward and unclear. There are also spelling and capitalisation problems, including “Bronz” and inconsistent “New york.” Use precise terms such as “population,” “share,” and “accounted for,” and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentence forms, including “Although” is not used, but the sentence beginning “Meanwhile” attempts to connect an overview point to the preceding one. Most sentences communicate a general idea, yet frequent errors in sentence construction, articles, prepositions, and punctuation reduce clarity. For example, “New york city had followed the increasing trend” uses an unsuitable tense, while “reached at” has an incorrect preposition. The phrase “by end of the period” needs an article, and “Manhattan city had recorded population at 76%” has an awkward grammatical pattern. Several spaces before punctuation and missing spaces after full stops also affect accuracy. Practise clear comparative structures such as “Manhattan’s share fell from … to …, whereas the other districts’ share rose …” and check each sentence for complete, correctly formed clauses.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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