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 table demonstrate the change in overall population of New York city between 1800 to 2000. The other tables second and third illustrates the population of five different districts.

Overall, the population of New York city in 2000 year has been rose from previous 1800. However, there are five districts of the city Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island. Therefore, from the year 1900 to 2000 the other five districts except Manhattan there a sharp rise in total population

Generally, in every century the population in New York and all five districts are increased overall. Therefore, in Manhattan there is a rise in population from year 1800 to 1900. After year 1900 to 2000 there is a sharp decline in overall population from [redacted phone]. Moreover, in other districts except Manhattan there is a huge increase in over all population as there is double percentage increase population in each century from 1800 to 2000 yeaer

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad pattern of strong growth in New York City and note that Manhattan’s population fell after 1900 while the other districts grew. However, the response only partially reports the tables: it gives no accurate population figures for the city or districts, and the claim that the other districts had a “double percentage increase” in each century is unclear and does not match the data. Manhattan rose from 60,515 in 1800 to 1,850,093 in 1900, then fell to 1,538,096; the other districts’ share rose from 24% to 81%. The overview is also imprecise. The response is 143 words, below the required 150, which further limits its development. Select key figures and make the comparisons explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has paragraph breaks and attempts an overview followed by details, so there is some basic organisation. However, progression is difficult to follow because ideas are repeated or placed together without clear relationships. For example, the overview says the population rose from 1800, then shifts to listing the districts and their growth; the next paragraph repeats that populations increased “in every century” before discussing Manhattan. Connect each paragraph to a clear purpose: first summarise the overall trend and changing shares, then compare Manhattan with the other districts using the three dates. Linking words such as “However” and “Moreover” are used, but some do not clarify the relationship between the claims that follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “overall population,” “districts,” “sharp decline,” and “increase,” which helps communicate the general subject. However, the range is limited and several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “has been rose,” “double percentage increase population,” and “in over all population.” These choices make some comparisons difficult to interpret. Spelling and word-form slips, including “yeaer,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise language for describing table data, such as “accounted for,” “population share,” and “increased from … to …”. Avoid repeating general terms like “increase” when a more exact description of the figures or proportions is available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, but control is inconsistent, and errors frequently affect clarity. For example, “The table demonstrate” has subject–verb disagreement, while “between 1800 to 2000” uses an incorrect preposition pattern. The sentence “the population … has been rose” combines an incorrect verb form with an unsuitable tense, and “there a sharp rise” is missing a verb. Articles, plurals, and sentence boundaries also need attention. Practise accurate past-tense reporting for historical data: “The population rose from … in 1800 to … in 1900.” Use shorter, complete sentences while building confidence with complex structures, and check agreement and verb forms during proofreading.

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