Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-07
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 table represents changes in the total living residents of three different cities between years 1800 to 2000.
Overall, population have rose significantly of all five districts but the heighest change can be noticied in city new york with other districts have also shown the change from 18,701 to 6,471,089 which is heighest in percentage.
In city newyork population in 1800 was 79,216 and by 1900 rose to 3,437,202 but the heighest sudden spike was by year 2000 with the population of 8,009,185.
In city manhattan in year 1800 population was slightly lower compared to new york despite this population grew to 1,850,096 by 1900 but declined to 1,538,096 in year 2000.
Other districts also have been made progress from 18,701 in 1800 to 1,587,109 to 46% by year 1900 with the modest change to 6,471,089 in in percentage which is 86% growth and highest of all by year 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and note the contrasting fall in Manhattan after 1900, which are relevant main features. However, the overview is unclear and includes an inaccurate claim: the largest population increase is attributed to “city new york,” while the other districts’ share rises to 81%, not 86%. The response also describes the tables as covering “three different cities,” although they show New York City and its districts. Some figures are reported, but the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is not clearly developed, and the 2000 share figures are omitted or misrepresented. Select the key trends accurately and summarise the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response has separate paragraphs for an overview, New York City, Manhattan and the other districts, so there is some basic organisation. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the overview mixes total population growth with the districts’ percentage share, and the final paragraph combines population figures and percentages in a confusing sequence. Linking phrases such as “despite this” and “but” are attempted, but relationships between ideas are sometimes unclear or mechanically expressed. For example, “from 18,701 in 1800 to 1,587,109 to 46% by year 1900” does not make the comparison easy to follow. Organise the report around the overall trend and then the district comparison, using clear references and transitions.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “rose,” “declined,” “population” and “percentage,” and these choices make the general subject understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes obscuring the intended meaning. “Total living residents” is an awkward substitute for population, while “the heighest sudden spike” and “made progress” are not suitable descriptions of demographic change. Spelling errors such as “heighest,” “noticied” and “newyork” are also noticeable. Aim for precise, conventional reporting language and check spelling; for example, describe a population as increasing, falling, or accounting for a particular share.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast in “despite this population grew,” and the reader can generally identify the intended topic. However, errors are frequent, and some sentence structures make relationships between figures difficult to understand. Examples include “population have rose,” which has incorrect agreement and verb form, and “Overall, population have rose significantly of all five districts,” where the sentence pattern is faulty. The opening phrase “between years 1800 to 2000” also uses an incorrect preposition pattern. Work on subject–verb agreement, past-tense forms, articles and complete sentence construction. Shorter, accurately formed sentences would help make the data comparisons clearer.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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