Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-14

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 tables illustrates variation in the total population on New York City (NYC) from the year 1800 and 2000. Furthermore, five districts are being examined.

Overall, NYC examined increasing in the percentage from the year 1800, 1900 and 2000 in same areas. Decreasing in another area same period. Also, the population increased in all districts.

Firstly, Manhattan table shows increasing in the population in from the year 1800 until 2000, as it was 60515, became [redacted phone]. However, th percentage of total population has decreased from 76% to 19% which lead to decrease by 57% which is more than half. from the year 1800 until 1900, the population has been greater, but the percentage get lower as the another districts became higher.

Secondly, other districts examined higher population than Manhattan in same period, also the percentage has increased magnificintly as it was 24% and become 81% which is four times higher than the year 1800. Moreover, from the year 1800 to 1900, the percentage has increased Rapiddly, which made great flow in the percentage. Comparing Manhattan to other districts, it is lower than them by four times as the percentage in the year 2000 is 19% and for other districts is 81 %, therefore other districts are higher in percentage of otal population by 62%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, and you include relevant figures such as Manhattan’s 76% share in 1800 and the other districts’ 81% share in 2000. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: the total population rose, but the percentage did not increase in all areas; Manhattan’s share fell while the other districts’ share rose. The statement that population increased in all districts is not supported by the tables, which group the four other districts together, and Manhattan’s population actually fell between 1900 and 2000. Important overall changes in the city’s total population are not reported. Select the main trends accurately and compare all three years more clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introductory paragraph, an attempted overview, and two body paragraphs, with sequencing words such as “Firstly” and “Secondly” to signal the comparison. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the overview is vague and some later points repeat the same percentage comparison without adding a clear new feature. Connections between ideas are sometimes unclear, as in “which made great flow in the percentage,” and “from the year 1800 until 1900” is followed by a comparison that does not clearly explain the trend. Organise the report around the overall population change and then the contrasting district shares, using each paragraph to develop a distinct comparison and clearer references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “districts,” and “increased,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “variation in the total population on New York City,” “increasing in the percentage,” and “great flow in the percentage.” Repetition of “increased” and “higher” also makes the comparisons less precise. There are noticeable spelling errors, including “magnificintly,” “Rapiddly,” and “otal,” which reduce clarity. Aim for accurate, conventional language for describing tables, such as “accounted for,” “rose,” “declined,” and “population share,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentences and uses basic past-tense forms, but the range of sentence structures is limited and errors are frequent enough to make several statements difficult to interpret. Examples include “The tables illustrates,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “NYC examined increasing,” which has an incorrect verb construction. Articles and prepositions are also often missing or misused, as in “on New York City” and “in from the year.” Sentence fragments such as “Decreasing in another area same period” weaken the report’s structure. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use consistent past-tense reporting forms.

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