Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-19

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 given tables provides the data about New York's populative changes in all five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, at the starting of 1800s, New york had just around 80 thousand people overall, and after the one century (in 1900s), increased up to 3 million. in 2020, it had a massive growth, rising over 8 million. In earlier time, people were first moved to manhattan, but decades after its pecentages declined. While rest of the areas remained a quite populate over the decades.

In 1800, New york city were just have 80k residents, but afterwards, in 1900, the numbers risen up to 3 million in just one decade. In 2000, again due to tons of migrations and residents, a population increased by 5 million (8 million overall).

The manhattan had 76% in 1800, but it declined nearly at 19% in 2000. While in other areas, in 1800, it had approximately 18k (24%). between 1900 to 2000, before it was seen at over 1.5 million and 6 million respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern: New York’s total population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. However, several key details are incomplete or inaccurate. The total reached about 8 million in 2000, not 2020, and the increase from 1900 to 2000 was about 4.6 million, rather than 5 million. The claim that the population rose to 3 million “in just one decade” is also incorrect: the table compares 1800 with 1900, a century later. You report Manhattan’s percentages and some figures for the other districts, but do not clearly state that Manhattan’s population itself peaked in 1900 and then declined by 2000. More precise comparisons and a clearer overview would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has separate paragraphs and begins with an overview, so there is some organisation. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the second and third paragraphs repeat the total-population figures, while the final paragraph shifts between Manhattan and the other districts without a clear comparison. Linking words such as “Overall,” “but,” and “While” are used, but some connections are awkward or incomplete, as in “While in other areas, in 1800, it had approximately 18k.” The reference of “it” is unclear, and the sequence “between 1900 to 2000, before it was seen…” makes the comparison difficult to follow. Group the total figures together, then compare Manhattan with the combined other districts, using clear references and transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary, including “population,” “declined,” “percentages,” and “overall,” which helps communicate the main trends. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate or too informal for a data summary. Examples include “populative changes,” “quite populate,” “tons of migrations,” and “the numbers risen up.” “Massive growth” is understandable but less precise than language describing a measured increase. Spelling and capitalisation errors, such as “pecentages” and “New york,” also reduce control. Aim for accurate collocations used in statistical reporting, such as “population increased,” “accounted for,” and “the remaining districts,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “While,” but grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “The given tables provides” has subject–verb disagreement, and “New york city were just have 80k residents” combines incompatible verb forms. Other problems include “the numbers risen up” and the fragment-like construction “While in other areas, in 1800, it had approximately 18k.” Capitalisation and sentence boundaries also need attention, as in the lowercase “in” after a full stop. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and basic sentence patterns first, then build contrasts with complete clauses, for example: “Manhattan’s share fell, whereas the other districts’ share increased.”

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