Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-23

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 provided gives us the information of population of New York City in different years and also the population of five districts of the city in the exact same period.

Overall the general analysis shows. in 2000, The New York City was highly populated the increase in population was higher in contrast to other years ( 1800 -1900).

The districts including, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island has different Data, Like For Manhattan population was less in percentage than other districts it was almost 19%, So majorly New York Increased population is due to other districts that comprises more percentage of poplation almost, New York city has 81% people from other than manhattan.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the broad subject and include two relevant comparisons: Manhattan’s share falls to 19% by 2000, while the other four districts account for 81%. However, the response reports very little of the table data and does not clearly summarise the main changes across all three years. For example, it omits the city’s growth from 79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000, and does not mention that Manhattan’s population rose by 1900 before declining by 2000. The overview is also unclear: “the increase in population was higher in contrast to other years” does not specify the trend or comparison. The response is 35 words below the required minimum, which further limits the detail and coverage. Include key figures and explain the main shifts explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall shape: an introduction, an attempted overview, and a paragraph about the districts. This gives the reader some sense of the topic, and the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts is relevant. However, progression is limited because the main population trend is not developed before the district comparison, and the final paragraph combines several ideas in one long, loosely connected sentence. Phrases such as “Overall” and “So” attempt to link ideas, but the relationships are not always clear. The overview sentence is especially difficult to follow because it joins separate claims without clear punctuation. Use a clearer sequence—overall trend first, then district changes—and divide comparisons into complete sentences with precise linking words.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “districts,” and “increase,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or repetitive, such as “different years,” “different Data,” and “more percentage.” “Majorly New York Increased population” is difficult to interpret because the wording does not express the intended relationship naturally. There are also spelling and capitalisation problems, including “poplation” and inconsistent capitals in “Data” and “New York Increased.” These issues sometimes make the reader work to understand your meaning. Aim for accurate chart language such as “the city’s population rose,” “accounted for,” and “the remaining districts,” and check spelling and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a few longer sentence forms, but control is uneven and most structures remain basic. Errors in agreement and sentence construction appear in “The tables provided gives us” and “The districts … has different Data.” The overview, “in 2000, The New York City was highly populated the increase in population was higher,” joins clauses without a suitable connector or punctuation, making the relationship unclear. Articles and phrasing are also inconsistent, as in “the New York City.” Full stops and commas are sometimes misplaced, including the stop after “shows.” These errors can interrupt understanding, although the general topic remains apparent. Practise writing complete sentences with one main comparison each, checking subject–verb agreement and using conjunctions such as “while” or “whereas” to connect contrasts.

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

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