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 given tables illustrate change in the table population of New ok and the five districts of the cities from 1800 to 2000.

overall it is clear that the five district of the cities is Manhattan,Brooklyn,Bronx,queens,staten island the first and third table population is surged. the second table of the population is decline gradually.

two commons with , in 1800 years the population is 79216 in New York city and [redacted phone] 2 population in 19 years and 2000 years the population is [redacted phone] is gradually increase . Furthermore 1800 years the population is 76% in 19 year the population is 54% and 200 years the population is 19% and slowly decline in Manhattan.

moreover if we look at the last table there are 4 other districts of the cities it is also sightly increment in 1800 years the population is 24 in 19 years the population is 46 and 2000 years the population is 80%

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, and you include figures for the city total and Manhattan’s changing share. However, the summary only partially reports the tables: the city’s 1900 population is given as “343720 2” rather than 3,437,202, and the final share for the other districts is reported as 80% instead of 81%. More importantly, the overview says the “first and third table population is surged” and the second declines, which is unclear and partly misleading: the city total and the combined population of the other districts both rise, while Manhattan’s population rises to 1900 and then falls by 2000. Select these main trends clearly and compare the absolute populations as well as percentages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is an attempt to organise the response with an opening, an overview, and later paragraphs introduced by “Furthermore” and “moreover.” This gives the reader some indication of structure. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the overview does not clearly identify which table or population is rising or falling, and the body moves between city totals, percentages, and district groups without a consistent sequence. Phrases such as “two commons with” and “if we look at the last table” do not establish clear relationships between the information. Group the response by first describing the overall city growth, then comparing Manhattan with the other districts, and use linking expressions to show contrast and change accurately.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary includes some relevant terms, such as “population,” “districts,” “percentage,” and “decline,” so the topic is recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the meaning unclear. For example, “two commons with” does not express a clear comparison, “the population is surged” is not a natural way to describe a rise, and “sightly increment” is both inaccurate in form and awkward in this context. “The table population” also confuses the table with the figures it presents. Use precise trend language such as “increased,” “fell,” “accounted for,” and “the combined population of the other four districts.” Check spelling and capitalisation of place names, including New York, Queens, and Staten Island.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt a few longer sentences, including “Furthermore 1800 years the population is 76%...” and “moreover if we look at the last table...,” but these structures are often faulty, and most sentences do not show secure control. Errors in tense and sentence construction include “the population is gradually increase” and “it is also sightly increment.” Articles, plurals, and agreement are also inconsistent, as in “the five district” and “the population ... is 76%,” where the subject and meaning are not expressed accurately. Punctuation is limited, with several sentences joined without clear boundaries. Practise writing short, complete comparisons first, using past-tense verbs for the historical data, then combine ideas with accurate clauses such as “while” or “whereas.”

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