Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-18

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 tables provide populations statistics for the New york city, and the population of its different districts for a 200 years period.

Overall, New york city's population has dramatically increased during the two century's period. Whilst, the district of manhattan district's position of single highest populated district has been ended, as 4 other districts now accomodate majority of the city's population in 21st century.

Firstly, the New york city's residents figures surged by more than 5 times in the 100 years period, ending in year 1900. The city's population futher increased by nearly 4.5 million people in the next 100 year period ending year 2000. Moreover, Manhattan district where 60000 people liv

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and the shift in population share away from Manhattan, which are relevant main features. However, the response is incomplete: it stops mid-sentence at “where 60000 people liv” and does not report the district figures or explain the comparison across all three years. The claim that Manhattan’s position as the “single highest populated district” ended is not established by these tables, which group the other four districts together. The response also falls 38 words short of the required minimum, limiting the detail available. To improve, complete the account and accurately compare Manhattan’s declining share (76% to 19%) with the other districts’ growth (24% to 81%).

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response with an introduction, an overview and a detail paragraph, and transitions such as “Overall,” “Firstly” and “Moreover” signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph ends abruptly and the second table’s key comparison is not developed. Some linking is awkward or unnecessary: “Whilst” begins a fragment-like sentence after the overview, while “Moreover” introduces a sentence that is cut off. The repeated references to the city’s population also make the development feel repetitive. Use complete paragraphs that move from the overall trend to the Manhattan-versus-other-districts comparison, and ensure each linking expression connects complete, logically related ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some suitable task vocabulary, including “population,” “districts,” “surged” and “majority,” and these choices communicate the general subject. However, the range is limited and several word forms, spellings or collocations are inaccurate, such as “populations statistics,” “futher,” “accomodate,” and “single highest populated district.” “New york city” is also inconsistently capitalised. These errors make the writing less precise, particularly when describing the district comparison. Aim for standard data-reporting phrases such as “population figures,” “accounted for,” and “population share,” and check spelling and capitalisation carefully. More precise vocabulary would help distinguish absolute population numbers from percentages.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex structures, including “Whilst…” and the clause beginning “where 60000 people…”. However, control is uneven, and the unfinished final sentence prevents the reader from understanding the intended point. There are also problems with sentence construction and agreement, for example “Whilst, the district of manhattan district’s position… has been ended,” where the opening connector, repeated noun phrase and verb form make the sentence difficult to follow. “The New york city’s residents figures” also has an incorrect possessive structure. Use complete, direct sentences and check articles, possessives and verb forms. For example, “Manhattan’s share of the city’s population fell” would express the trend clearly and accurately.

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