Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-12

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 illustrate the change of population of new york city and it five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island).

Overall, we have noticed that the population in new york city had increased incredibly , in which it was marked by 79,216 only in 1800. However, it doubled increasing in 1900 in which it scored 3,437,202.By 2000, it reached its peak , in which it witnessed more than [redacted phone].

Talking about the districts on New york, we observed that most of habitats lived in Manhattan especaily in 1800, in which it scored by 76% which is big number compared to other districts.However in 1900, Manhattan had witnessed a small increase compared to other districts that scored 46% which is considered as big sergue.

By 2000, other districts had seen a n amazing increasment on the popultaion by more than 81 %

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main overall rise in New York City’s population and the shift from Manhattan towards the other districts, which are relevant features. However, the report is only a partial summary: it gives few precise comparisons and does not clearly explain that Manhattan’s population rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 in 2000. The statement that Manhattan had a “small increase” compared with the other districts is unclear, and the 1900 share of the other districts is reported as 46% without explaining the contrast with Manhattan’s 54%. The total population did not “double” by 1900; it rose from 79,216 to 3,437,202. The response is also 7 words below the required minimum. Add accurate figures and a fuller overview of the contrasting trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the population distribution over time. Time markers such as “Overall,” “in 1900,” and “By 2000” help the reader follow the chronology. However, progression is uneven because the discussion moves between total population and district shares without consistently signalling the comparison. For example, “Manhattan had witnessed a small increase compared to other districts that scored 46%” is difficult to follow, and the final paragraph gives only one brief point. Some linking phrases, including repeated “in which,” are mechanical and do not clarify relationships. Group the total-population figures together, then compare Manhattan with the combined other districts across the three years, using clear references and transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some vocabulary suited to describing change, including “increased,” “reached its peak,” and “compared to,” so the main topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, sometimes making the intended meaning unclear. “Habitats” does not mean people living in an area, “big sergue” is not an appropriate description of a population share, and “increasment” is not the correct noun form. Spelling and capitalisation are also inconsistent in “new york,” “especaily,” and “popultaion.” Prefer precise, familiar data-reporting language such as “residents,” “proportion,” “rose,” and “declined,” and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, for example, “Overall, we have noticed that the population in new york city had increased incredibly” and “By 2000, other districts had seen…”. However, complex clauses are often faulty or awkward, and frequent errors affect clarity. The opening has incorrect agreement and possessive form in “it five districts”; “it was marked by 79,216 only” uses an unclear construction; and “it doubled increasing in 1900” does not form a clear grammatical relationship. There are also punctuation and spacing problems, such as the missing space after the full stop in “3,437,202.By.” Use direct sentence patterns with accurate subjects and verbs—for example, “The city’s population rose from… to…”—and check articles, agreement, and punctuation.

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