Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 first table shows the chnages in the total population of New York city from the period 1800 to 2000, while the other two tables present the changes in the population of the five districts of the city over the same period.

Overall, the total population of the city including all five districts was 79,216 in 1800 which was gradually increase at around 8 million in 2000.

Population of the city contributes in five districts. The major one is Manhattan district it was the 76% of total population in 1800 which was biggest contributes then the other four districts. When the population of the city around 3.4 million the Manhattan districts involved as a 54% of population around 1.8 million but in 2000 Mnahattan population was decrease and the other four districts population steady rose in 2000 around 6.4 million at

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the topic and report several key figures, including the city’s population in 1800 and Manhattan’s changing share. You also recognise the main contrast: Manhattan’s population fell by 2000 while the other districts grew. However, the account is incomplete and under-developed: it does not clearly report the 1900-to-2000 rise in the city total, and the final comparison is left unfinished (“around 6.4 million at”). The overview also says the total “gradually” increased, without clearly highlighting the scale of growth or the shift in population share. The response is 121 words, below the required 150, which limits the detail provided. Develop the overview and complete the comparisons using the figures accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, a broad overview, and then details about Manhattan and the other districts. Linking words such as “while,” “Overall,” and “but” help signal relationships between the tables and time periods. However, progression is difficult to follow because the second paragraph combines several comparisons in one long, loosely connected sentence, and the final clause is incomplete. References such as “the other four districts” are understandable, but the relationship between the city total and district figures is not consistently made clear. Use separate, focused paragraphs for the overall trend and the district comparison, and connect each year explicitly so the reader can follow the changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “total population,” “districts,” “percentage,” and “population,” and these choices make the subject clear. However, the range is limited and several noticeable word-choice, spelling, or collocation errors make parts of the description awkward, such as “biggest contributes,” “involved as a 54%,” and “steady rose.” There are also spelling errors in “chnages” and “Mnahattan.” These issues sometimes make the intended meaning less immediate. Aim for accurate, natural phrases such as “accounted for 54%,” “the largest share,” and “rose steadily,” and check spelling carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt to connect ideas in longer sentences, for example by using “while” and “but,” and the opening sentence communicates the task clearly. However, the range of sentence structures is limited, and errors are frequent enough to affect clarity. In “which was gradually increase,” the verb form is incorrect; “which was the biggest contributes” has problems with the clause and agreement; and “the Manhattan districts involved as a 54%” is not grammatically formed. The final sentence also ends with an incomplete phrase. Use simpler, complete sentences when needed, check subject–verb agreement and verb forms, and make sure every sentence has a clear ending.

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