Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-13

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 given diagrams ilustrate three different informations first of all it's shows about the population of all districts of New York in the Period of 1800, 1900 and 2000. Secoundly the tables below shows about the Populaiton changes inbetween Manthattan and four other cities.

In the first table it can be seee that in 1800 number of people in New York City over all, were aroung 79 thousand but after Hundrad years it increase to around 3.43 million. But these number become double only after a centuery.

Secound and third Tables shows information about the population of Manhattan which highlites that only in 1800 Manhattan, there were 76 percent of populaiton were living but rest were in other four cities, On the other side of the picture after only 2 centeries this number was totaly reflected, 81 percent of populaiton was in other four cites rather than Manthatan. there is an other point in 1900 the populaiton was almost equal between manhattan and other four districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that New York’s population grew substantially and that Manhattan’s share fell while the other districts’ share rose. However, the account is only partial and some key details are inaccurate or unclear. The statement that the total “become double” after 1900 is incorrect: it rose from about 3.44 million to 8.01 million, more than doubling. You also say the 1900 populations were “almost equal,” although Manhattan had 54% and the other districts 46%; this is a useful comparison, but it needs precise wording. Include a clear overview and report the major figures, especially Manhattan’s population falling by 2000 despite overall city growth.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a basic sequence from the citywide table to the district comparison, and phrases such as “In the first table” and “On the other side” help signal shifts. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the opening lists the tables rather than presenting the main trends, and the final paragraph combines several comparisons in a long, difficult-to-follow sentence. Some linking phrases are awkward or do not express the relationship precisely, while “Secound and third Tables” is repeated. Organise the response into a brief introduction, a clear overview, and focused detail paragraphs. Use links such as “By contrast” and “Meanwhile” only where they accurately connect the figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

Your vocabulary is sufficient to identify the topic and make basic comparisons, using terms such as “population,” “increase,” “percentage,” and “other districts.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or spellings make the report less clear or less suitable for an academic summary. For example, “three different informations” is unnatural, “cities” incorrectly describes the other districts, and “totaly reflected” does not clearly express the change in population shares. Spelling errors such as “Populaiton,” “Manthatan,” and “centuery” are frequent enough to weaken accuracy. Build a small set of precise trend and comparison expressions, and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, but control is inconsistent, and errors often make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Examples include “it's shows,” “the tables below shows,” and “it can be seee,” where subject–verb agreement or verb forms are incorrect. The sentence beginning “only in 1800 Manhattan” also has a faulty structure, and the long final sentence lacks clear punctuation and clause boundaries. Practise forming accurate sentences with a subject and verb, then combine them using controlled clauses—for example, “In 1800, Manhattan accounted for 76% of the population, whereas the other districts made up 24%.”

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