Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-21

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 conpared the number of population changes overtime from 1800 to 2020 in Newyork Districts.

overall the table one illustrates the Mantthan which demonstrates a great population which ultimately dropped. while the second table describe other cities Brooklyn, Bronx,island,queens remains increasing the population.

According to the table the new york started at low population of only 7,9216 in 1800 which gradually rose upto 8, 009,185 in 2020.

the table shows that manthan had a very

large number of population in 1800 which incredibly dropped to a low of upto 19% in 2020.on the other hand the five districts were low in population in 1800 that is only 24% which immensely rise upto 81% in 2020.while in 1900 the population remains consideably same in each district.

these table compare the population of 5 districts with one district manthana which shows decline.on the other hand the 5 districts population climbed to a good level. The overall population of newyotk was rise immensely

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad contrast that Manhattan’s share fell while the other districts’ share rose, and you note that New York’s total population increased substantially. However, several key details are inaccurate or unclear: the period ends in 2000, not 2020, and the 1800 total is 79,216, not “7,9216.” You also describe the 1900 populations as “considerably same,” although Manhattan had 54% and the other districts 46%, and Manhattan’s population actually fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000. The overview is present but does not clearly summarise the total growth and the shift in population distribution. Select the main figures accurately and explain the changes across all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is an attempt to organise the response with an opening, an overview and supporting details, and linking phrases such as “overall” and “on the other hand.” However, the progression is difficult to follow because the tables and districts are repeatedly referred to without clear distinctions. For example, “the second table describe other cities” is confusing, and the final paragraph repeats the contrast already made rather than adding a new comparison. Some links are also joined awkwardly, as in “2020.on the other hand” and “81% in 2020.while.” Use separate, purposeful paragraphs and organise the details by year or by Manhattan versus the other districts. Clear references to each group would make the comparisons easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing change, including “dropped,” “rose,” “decline” and “climbed,” so the reader can recognise the general trends. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “number of population,” “great population,” “low of upto 19%” and “remains increasing the population.” Repetition of “population” and “table” also makes the report less precise. There are frequent spelling problems in key terms and place names, including “conpared,” “Mantthan,” “manthana” and “newyotk,” which can distract the reader. Aim for accurate collocations and use terms such as “population share,” “accounted for” and “increased” to describe the data more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer comparisons, for example, “On the other hand the five districts were low in population in 1800…” This shows some effort to connect ideas, but the range is limited and errors occur frequently. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent (“the second table describe”; “the population … were”), and verb forms are often incorrect (“was rise,” “immensely rise”). Articles and sentence boundaries are also problematic, as in “the new york started” and “2020.on the other hand.” These errors sometimes make relationships between figures difficult to understand. Practise forming accurate past-tense sentences and checking agreement, articles and punctuation, then build longer comparisons from those reliable sentence patterns.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.