Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-22
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 table chart illustrates that all over population of new york city between 1800 to 2000 . the 2nd and 3rd tables chart indicates that changes in population of the 5 district cirty such as Manhattan , Brooklyn , bronx , queens and staten island at same time .
new york city in 1800 the population was 79216 but at the end in 20000 it massively increase huge population [redacted phone] the highest number of populated city in this chart .
on the other hand manhattan city improve their population in 2000 population is [redacted phone] but in 1900 city's population was [redacted phone] .
in contrast , other districts same as new york city day by day they increase their population in 1800 the population percentage was 24% but in 2000 their population was higher such as 81 % .
overall new yorkl city and other districts can not control population but manhattan city recover their population and reduce percentage .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and the contrasting pattern for Manhattan, and you correctly report several key figures: the city reached 8,009,185 in 2000, while Manhattan fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000. You also note the shift in the other districts’ share from 24% to 81%. However, coverage is partial: the 1900 and 2000 totals are not compared clearly, and the other districts’ population figures are omitted. The overview that the city and other districts “can not control population” is not supported by the tables, which show changes rather than causes or control. Focus on describing the main trends and comparisons objectively, including Manhattan’s declining share from 76% to 19%.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, comments on the city total, Manhattan, the other districts, and a concluding statement. This gives the reader some sense of the topics being covered. However, progression between points is not always clear, and several linking phrases are used mechanically or inaccurately. For example, “on the other hand” and “in contrast” introduce comparisons without clearly stating what is being contrasted. The final sentence also introduces an unsupported conclusion rather than summarising the data. Improve cohesion by grouping related comparisons, using clear references such as “By contrast, Manhattan…”, and ensuring each paragraph develops one main feature. More precise sentence boundaries would also make the sequence easier to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “districts,” and “reduce,” so the subject is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning unclear. “The highest number of populated city” is not a natural way to describe the figure, while “Manhattan city improve their population” does not express the intended trend clearly. There are also spelling and form errors, such as “cirty,” “new yorkl,” and “bronx.” Aim for precise data-reporting language, such as “the population rose,” “accounted for,” and “the proportion declined,” and check spelling of place names and key terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The response relies mainly on simple sentence patterns, with limited control when attempting longer structures. Errors occur frequently in sentence formation and verb forms, as in “the table chart illustrates that all over population…,” “it massively increase,” and “other districts… they increase their population.” Articles, prepositions, and agreement are also often missing or incorrect, which makes some sentences difficult to interpret. Punctuation and capitalisation are inconsistent, and several ideas are joined without clear sentence boundaries. Practise building accurate simple sentences first—for example, “New York City’s population increased from… to…”—then add comparisons using clauses such as “whereas Manhattan’s population declined after 1900.”
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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