Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-14
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 illustrate, flactuations in total individuals of New York City from1800 to 2000, while the second tables explained how total population in five regions of the city named Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island over the same years.
Overall, total population of all five districts of New York city increased, while population of Manhattan expereienced a very large growth every years, but the percentage of as compared to total population declined over the period. In addition, the population of other district also showed inceresd in their numbers, and their proportion to total population also increased exponentially.
In 1800, the population pof New York City districts as 79,216. This number increased to 3,437,202 in 1900. Furthermore, the total population reached to 8,009,185 in 2000.
Moreover the population of the Manhattab in 1800 just 18,701, their growth as compared to tatal population 24%. In addition, this number increased in 1900 1,287,109 but their perctage
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You identify the broad rise in New York City’s total population and note the changing shares of Manhattan and the other districts, which are relevant features. However, the account is only partial and some key data are misreported: 18,701 in 1800 belongs to the other districts, not Manhattan, and the 1900 figure for the other districts is 1,587,109, not 1,287,109. The response also stops before completing the comparison of district populations, and it does not report Manhattan’s actual figures of 60,515, 1,850,093 and 1,538,096. The overview’s claim that Manhattan’s population grew every year is inaccurate, since it fell between 1900 and 2000. Select the main changes accurately and complete the comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction, an overview, and then figures for the total population followed by district information. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Furthermore” and “In addition” help signal relationships between points. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph breaks off mid-comparison (“but their perctage”), leaving the district discussion incomplete. Some transitions are repetitive, and the overview combines several trends in a way that is difficult to follow. The reference to “this number” is also unclear because it could refer to more than one population figure. Organise the details into a complete comparison of Manhattan and the other districts, and use clearer references and fewer repetitive connectors.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You attempt some task-appropriate vocabulary, including “total population,” “percentage” and “declined,” and you use language to describe change. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors make parts difficult to understand: “flactuations,” “expereienced,” “incer esd” and “Manhattab.” Some combinations are also unnatural, such as “population of all five districts increased” and “growth as compared to total population.” Use precise terms such as “population rose” for a numerical increase and “share of the city’s population” for a percentage. Check spelling carefully and avoid using “growth” when describing a proportion unless the meaning is clear.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “while” and an overview beginning “Overall.” However, grammatical errors occur frequently and sometimes obscure the intended meaning. For example, “The first table illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, while “In 1800, the population … as 79,216” is missing a verb. The sentence “Moreover the population of the Manhattab in 1800 just 18,701” also lacks a complete verb structure. There are problems with articles, plurals and sentence boundaries, and the final sentence is unfinished. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, then check agreement and punctuation before submitting.
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