Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-11

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 population of New york city is change from 1800 to 2000.The number of people increase every year.in 1800 the population is in thousand like 79216 and this population is increase next 100 years is [redacted phone], its more than double population and the next 100 year the city populatio is increase [redacted phone] this number of people increase is increadible.

Now we discusse the number of population increase in district of this city in the same period of time.In 1800 district Manhattan have 76 percentage of total population and the other hand other districts have 24 percentage of total population.inthese years manhattan have large number of population increase.

In 1900 manhattan population is 54 percent of toatl population which is [redacted phone] and the other districts contribute 46 percent of thetotal population.

In 2000 years 19 percent population contribute by manhattan which is [redacted phone] and other districts contribute 81 percent which is very impressive number and these have changether nu,ber of population of manhattan .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report the main overall rise, from 79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000, and include relevant comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts. The figures and percentages you give for 1900 and 2000 are accurate. However, the response does not clearly summarise the most important pattern: Manhattan’s population rose to a peak in 1900 and then fell by 2000, while the other districts grew substantially and became the majority. The claim that the city population increased “every year” is not established by data for only three dates, and “more than double” is an inaccurate comparison for the change from 1800 to 1900. A clearer overview and more precise interpretation of the figures would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence, moving from the citywide figures to the district comparisons and then through the three years. This gives the reader some sense of organisation, and phrases such as “In 1900” and “In 2000” help signal time. However, the progression is repetitive and the paragraphing does not clearly separate an overview from supporting details. Several links are unclear or inaccurate, including “and the other hand” and “in these years,” while the final sentence is difficult to follow. Grouping the information into a brief overview followed by a paragraph comparing Manhattan with the other districts would create a clearer progression. Use linking expressions only where they show a precise relationship between ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “total population,” “districts,” and “contribute,” so the topic is generally identifiable. However, the range is limited and several words or phrases are repeated, especially “population increase.” Inaccurate or awkward choices such as “in thousand,” “very impressive number,” and “change their number of population” make some comparisons hard to understand. Spelling errors, including “discusse,” “toatl,” and “increadible,” also reduce clarity. Aim for precise terms for trends and proportions, such as “rose,” “declined,” “accounted for,” and “share,” and check spelling and collocations when editing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response mainly uses simple sentence patterns, with limited control when joining ideas into longer sentences. Errors occur frequently in verb forms and sentence construction, for example, “The population … is change,” “the number of people increase,” and “Manhattan population is 54 percent.” Articles, prepositions, and punctuation are also often missing or misplaced, as in “in 1800 district Manhattan” and the run-together sentence beginnings after full stops. These errors sometimes make relationships between figures unclear. Practise accurate past-tense reporting for the three dates, and build sentences around clear subjects and verbs—for example, “Manhattan’s population rose to …, while the other districts accounted for ….”

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