Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-08

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 illustrate that total population changes from 1800 to 2000 in five districts of the city Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the same period .

Overall, The total population decreased a significant number from 1800 to 2000. In Manhattan percentage of total population from 76 to 19 % in 1800 to 2000. While, In other districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island elevated from 24 to 81% in 1800 to 2000.

In manhattan the population increased from 60515 to [redacted phone] in 18th to 19th century then slightly fall to [redacted phone] in 20th cenutry.On the other hand , the population rocket from 18701 to [redacted phone] in 18 th to 19th century. then double the number of population reached to [redacted phone] in 20 th cenutry.

In the conclusion , the number of population increased 8 times more from 18 cenutry to 20 th century.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the broad contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, including the shift in their shares from 76% to 19% and from 24% to 81%. However, the overview contains a major factual error: New York City’s total population increased, rather than “decreased,” from 79,216 to 8,009,185. Some figures are also misreported: Manhattan’s 1900 population was 1,850,093, not 185,093, and its 2000 population was lower than in 1900. The final claim that the population increased “8 times more” is imprecise. The response is 131 words, below the 150-word minimum, and this limits the coverage and development of the key features. Check figures carefully and give a clear, accurate overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, two detail paragraphs, and a concluding statement. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “Overall” and “On the other hand” signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is not always clear. The conclusion repeats a general point rather than adding a useful comparison, while the detail paragraph shifts abruptly between centuries and districts. Some linking is awkward or incomplete, as in “then double the number of population reached…” and “While, In other districts…”. Group the figures by a clear comparison—Manhattan versus the other districts—and use transitions to show the changes over time without fragmenting the sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “percentage,” “population,” “increased,” and “fall,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural. “Rocket” is too informal for an academic report, and “decreased a significant number” does not express the intended trend clearly. Phrases such as “double the number of population” and “8 times more” are also imprecise. Spelling errors, including “cenutry,” further reduce control. Aim for precise reporting language and accurate collocations, such as “rose sharply,” “accounted for,” and “the population increased eightfold.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both simple and more complex structures, including a contrast with “While” and a sequence using “then,” but control is inconsistent. Subject–verb agreement is incorrect in “The table illustrate,” and the overview sentence “The total population decreased a significant number” has faulty grammatical construction. Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also problematic: “In manhattan… cenutry.On the other hand” runs together, while “then double…” begins as an incomplete sentence. Capitalisation and spacing around punctuation are inconsistent. These errors sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Practise accurate sentence patterns for comparisons and trends, and check agreement, articles, punctuation, and complete sentence structure during revision.

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