Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-12
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 illustrates the changes of the total population in New York City between 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables demonstrates the changes in the population of five districts of the city over the same period.
Overall, it is clear that the highest number of population live in New York from 1800 to 2000. Another noticeable feature is that in Manhattan, there were alot of changes and the other cities like Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Stalen Island there are many changes in population about 24 percrent population changes in 1800 and 81 percent in 2000.
Looking at the details, the population in New York city should be 79,216 in 1800 and it should be dramaticaly increased approximately 3,437,202 in 1900. In 2000 the population rose up to 8,009,185. In comparision, to the other cities mainly Manhattan, the the population is bout 60,515 appproximately 76 percent in 1800 and about 54 percent population live in Manhattan in 1900. In 2000, the total population live in Manhattan is about 19 percent.
Moviung to remaining information, the population live in other districts like Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island is approximately 24 percent in 1800. Furthermore, 46 percent population live in 1900and in 2000, 81 percent population live in other districts.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You report the main overall rise in New York City’s population and the shift in the population share from Manhattan to the other districts. The figures you give—79,216 in 1800, 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 2000, alongside the 24% to 81% change for the other districts—match the tables. However, the overview is unclear: “the highest number of population live in New York” does not identify the key contrast, and “alot of changes” is too general. You also omit Manhattan’s actual population in 1900 and 2000, and do not report the other-district population totals. Select the main trends more precisely and compare both population numbers and shares to develop the summary more fully.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. Phrases such as “Looking at the details” and “Moving to remaining information” signal a change of focus. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview repeats broad claims rather than summarising the main contrast, and the final paragraph gives percentages without connecting them clearly to the earlier figures. Some linking is mechanical, while “In comparison” introduces information that is not clearly contrasted. Organise the details around the overall population trend and the changing balance between Manhattan and the other districts, using references that make each comparison explicit.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “districts,” “approximately” and “increased,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or repetitive: “a lot of changes” does not describe a specific trend, and “population changes” is used where you mean population share. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “Stalen,” “percrent,” “dramaticaly” and “comparision,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for precise terms such as “population share,” “accounted for” and “rose substantially,” and check spelling and collocations carefully. This would make the comparisons clearer and more appropriate for an academic summary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt a few complex forms, such as “Another noticeable feature is that…” and “the population … should be 79,216,” but the range is limited and errors occur frequently. For example, “The second and third tables demonstrates” has subject–verb disagreement, while “between 1800 to 2000” uses an incorrect preposition pattern. The phrase “the the population” repeats an article, and “the population live in other districts … is” has an unclear grammatical structure. Tense and sentence construction also need attention: “it should be dramatically increased” is not an appropriate way to report a past figure. Practise accurate simple comparisons first, then add complex clauses while checking agreement, articles and verb forms.
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