Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-24
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 illustrates the change 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 such as Manhattan ,Brooklyn ,Bronx,Queens and staten island over the same period .
The first image displays New York city rose from 79,216 population in 1800.While ,increase by 3,437,202 in 1900 years .However ,2000 went up average had 8,009,185 .
The second table capture Mantattan making up 76% from 60,515 in 1800.This followed by total average 54% to 1,850,093 in 1900 .Similarly ,population representing by 1,538,096 for 19% in 2000.
The third image details the combine remained they were 18,701 in 24% from 1800 .In 1900 ,fall sightly 46% had 1,587,109 .Finally ,population of other districts increase 6,471,089 with figures at 81% over 2000.
In conclusion ,Three tables compare changes in the total population of New York between 1800 to 2000 during over the 20 centries .There are main five districts of the city include Manhattan ,Brooklyn ,Bronx ,Queens and staten Island over the 20 centries .In new York city increase 2000 year ,while decreased by 1800 year.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You include the main time points and report several accurate figures, including the city’s total population and Manhattan’s and the other districts’ populations and shares. You also identify the broad shift from Manhattan’s dominance in 1800 to the other districts’ larger share by 2000. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: the conclusion says the population “decreased by 1800,” although the figures show a strong overall rise. Some comparisons are also misreported; for example, the other districts’ population did not “fall” in 1900, but rose from 18,701 to 1,587,109. To improve, give a clear overview of the overall growth and changing distribution, then describe the key comparisons accurately rather than repeating the table details without explaining them.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has separate paragraphs for the introduction, total population, Manhattan, other districts and a conclusion, so the reader can see an intended structure. Time markers such as “In 1900” and “Finally” also help signal sequence. However, progression is weakened by unclear sentence links and repetitive or inaccurate connectors, including “While” and “However” in the total-population paragraph, where the figures all show increases. The conclusion repeats the task description instead of synthesising the main trends, and references such as “the third image” are less precise than naming the group. Organise the body around the overall trend and the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, and use linking words only when their meaning fits the comparison.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant vocabulary for describing tables, including “population,” “percentage,” “districts” and “increase,” and you attempt alternatives such as “illustrates” and “details.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the meaning difficult to follow: “increase by 3,437,202” suggests an amount of growth rather than a population figure, while “fall sightly” inaccurately describes the other districts’ rise. There are also spelling and form errors, such as “Mantattan,” “staten,” and “centries.” Build a more precise set of trend phrases, such as “the population stood at,” “accounted for,” and “rose substantially,” and check spelling and word forms before submitting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The response attempts both simple and more extended sentence forms, but control is limited and errors frequently make relationships between figures unclear. For example, “The first image displays New York city rose from 79,216 population” lacks a grammatical structure linking the subject and verb, and “While, increase by 3,437,202 in 1900 years” is a fragment. Tense and sentence construction are also problematic in “2000 went up average had 8,009,185” and “the combine remained they were 18,701.” Punctuation spacing and comma use are inconsistent as well. Practise complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use a consistent past-tense pattern, such as “The population rose to … in 1900.”
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