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)

Here the given charts illustrate that how the population increase in newyork from 1800 to 2000, whereas the population of different districts like mahattan, broklyn bronx,queens and staten island are changed more

overall, the population is increased from 79216 to 8 million with the maximum increase rate is in manhattan and remaining in the different districts broklyn bronx wueens and staten island.

Mainly the table of Newyork shows in 1800 the popultaion was 79216 which increased in 1900 to 3.4 million and in 2000 its increased to 8 million. whereas the maximum of populationw as in manhattan which was 76% and in 1900 its population gone to 54% of the newyork but in 2000 the popultaion decreases to 19% of newyork population.

when its come other districts BROLLYN BRONX, QUEENS , S TATEN ISLAND THE POPULTAION in year 1800 was 24% and as the time changes to 1900 its increase to 46% of the total newyork population whereas when it come to year 2000 the max popultaion in these districts was 81%. mean the maximum population from manhattan was moved to these districts

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: New York’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the combined share of the other districts rose. The figures you give for the total and the percentage shares are broadly consistent with the tables. However, the overview is unclear when it says the “maximum increase rate is in manhattan”: Manhattan’s population actually fell between 1900 and 2000, from about 1.85 million to 1.54 million, even as its share declined. The response also does not clearly report the other districts’ population totals, which rose from 18,701 to 6,471,089. The claim that people “moved” from Manhattan is not established by the tables; describe the changing distribution rather than infer migration. These omissions and the unclear comparison limit how fully the key features are presented.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic overall sequence: an opening statement, a summary of the city total and Manhattan, and then a paragraph on the other districts. This gives the reader some organisation, and time markers such as “in 1800,” “in 1900” and “in 2000” help locate the data. However, the progression is weakened by the opening sentence running into the next idea without clear punctuation, and the overview repeats information rather than establishing a concise comparison. Connectors such as “whereas,” “when its come” and “mean” are used inaccurately or mechanically, so relationships between points are sometimes unclear. Use separate, purposeful paragraphs and link the figures with clear comparisons, for example, contrasting Manhattan’s falling share with the other districts’ rising share.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “total,” “districts,” “increase” and “decreases,” so the general subject is understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or repetitive: “maximum increase rate” does not describe Manhattan’s trend, and “population was moved” suggests a cause the tables do not show. Spelling and word-form errors such as “popultaion,” “newyork,” “mahattan” and “wueens” also reduce precision. Aim for accurate reporting verbs and collocations, such as “rose,” “declined,” “accounted for” and “the combined population of the other districts.” Check proper names and spelling carefully, and avoid repeating “population” where a more precise phrase can make the comparison clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple statements and longer comparisons, including “in 1800 the population was … which increased in 1900,” showing some effort to connect information. However, sentence structures are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. For example, “illustrate that how the population increase” has an incorrect clause pattern and verb form; “in 2000 its increased” also uses the wrong form, while “when its come other districts” lacks a correct introductory structure. Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, with long sentences joined without full stops. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and clear comparative clauses: “The total population rose from … to …, while Manhattan’s share fell.” Breaking complex ideas into controlled sentences will improve clarity and accuracy.

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