Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-16

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 top table illustrates the variation in all the population of metropolitan New York within 1800 to 2000. The second and third illustrate the variety of different population of the five districts of the urban area over the same limit of time.

In the first table the table between the year and population of all the New York, while the second table show the year, population, and percentage with overall population. At last, the third table is same as second one but showing population of other four districts with overall population.

The table tells us that the population increase from 1800 onward, the change in both the century was very significant. This difference is about 4 million and that of last century is almost 3 million in the first century.

In the second and third table the percentage of Manhattan is highest in 1800 which is then followed by 1900 and then decrease in 2000, and the change is not that significant. while in other four districts which is lowest in 1800 and then increase in 1900 and then dramatically increase to highest percentage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad pattern that New York’s population grew and that Manhattan’s share fell while the other districts’ share rose. However, the account is only partial and some key comparisons are unclear or inaccurate. The statement that the change was “about 4 million” in the first century and “almost 3 million” in the last reverses the scale: growth was about 3.36 million from 1800 to 1900 and about 4.57 million from 1900 to 2000. You also say Manhattan’s change was “not that significant,” although its population fell from about 1.85 million to 1.54 million and its share dropped sharply from 54% to 19%. Include a clear overview and support it with accurate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has some organisation: it introduces the tables, then discusses overall population and district shares. Basic sequencing phrases such as “In the first table” and “At last” help signal movement between points. However, the second paragraph mostly describes what the tables contain rather than developing comparisons, and the final paragraph combines several trends without a clear progression. Linking is also repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “and then,” while “while” begins a sentence without effective connection to the preceding point. Organise the response into a concise introduction, an overview of the main trends, and detail paragraphs comparing the periods and districts; use clearer references and varied linking expressions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “districts,” and “increase,” so the reader can identify the subject of the report. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “variation in all the population” and “variety of different population” do not express population change naturally, while “same limit of time” is an unsuitable phrase for the period covered. “Dramatically increase to highest percentage” is also imprecise and does not clearly identify which group or figure is meant. Aim for accurate reporting language such as “rose,” “declined,” “accounted for,” and “share of the total.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentence forms, including “which is then followed by 1900 and then decrease in 2000,” but control is inconsistent and many sentences contain errors that make the relationships between ideas unclear. Examples include “the population increase,” where the verb form is incorrect, and “the second table show,” where subject–verb agreement is missing. The sentence beginning “In the first table the table between the year and population” is incomplete, and “the change in both the century was” has problems with number and sentence structure. There is also inconsistent capitalisation after a full stop, as in “while in other four districts.” Practise complete sentences with accurate tense, agreement, articles, and punctuation before adding more complex clauses.

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