Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 three table show the different papulation in different years.1st table shows the population of new york city from 1800 to 2000.2nd table shows the population of Manhattan with years and persontages.3rd table shows population of other districts.from 1800 to 2000 with percentages.

overall these three tables have different populatio statistics and the year of table 1,2,3 are different but the papulations are different of new york,Mantattan and other districtics like Brooklyn,Bronx,Queens,Staten and Island.

first table illustrate that population of all five district of new york city is increase with every next year in 1800 the population was 79216,in 1900 population was [redacted phone]whilw in 2000 the population was [redacted phone].on the other hand 2nd table explan that Manhanttan population was in 1800 was 60515 and in 1900 population was [redacted phone] and in next year inn 2000 it becomes decrease [redacted phone].and the persontages of these populations are 76%,54%,and 19% respectivily.

third table mention population in diiferent districtics from 1800 t0 2000 with that is incresing annually.population that explain from 1800 to 2000 have different number every year it increases,18701 with persontage 24%,[redacted phone] with persontage 46,in 2000 is [redacted phone] with persontage 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource4.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You report the main population figures for all three groups and correctly show the overall rise in New York City and the changing shares of Manhattan and the other districts. You also identify that Manhattan’s population fell between 1900 and 2000, which is an important contrast. However, the overview is vague: saying the tables have “different population statistics” does not clearly summarise the key pattern that Manhattan’s share declined while the other districts’ share grew. Some details are imprecise, such as describing the other districts’ growth as “annually” when only three years are shown. Develop a concise overview and compare the groups directly to make the main features clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic sequence: it introduces the tables, gives an overview, and then discusses the city total, Manhattan, and the other districts. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “on the other hand” signal a contrast. However, the progression is repetitive and not always clear. The opening and overview largely repeat that the tables show populations in different years, while the final paragraph repeats that figures change and increase. Linking expressions are sometimes used mechanically, and the long final paragraph combines several figures without clear sentence boundaries. Use distinct paragraphs for the overview and key comparisons, and connect ideas with precise references to the data.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “percentages,” “districts,” “increase,” and “decrease,” so the basic subject is understandable. However, the range is limited and several words are repeated, while frequent spelling errors—such as “papulation,” “persontages,” “Manhanttan,” and “districtics”—make the writing less clear and less controlled. Some expressions are also imprecise, for example “different population statistics” and “population that explain.” Choose accurate terms for trends and comparisons, and check spelling carefully. More precise phrases such as “accounted for,” “rose substantially,” and “declined as a proportion of the total” would help describe the data more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response mainly uses simple statements and attempts a few longer sentences, but grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. For example, “the three table show” has problems with number agreement, and “Manhattan population was in 1800 was” has an incorrect sentence structure. Several sentences run together without appropriate punctuation, such as the opening sequence of table descriptions and the figures in the final paragraph. Verb forms and articles also need attention, as in “population … is increase.” Practise forming clear subject–verb–object sentences, use past-tense forms consistently for the historical data, and separate each comparison with correct punctuation.

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