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 tables lists the data about chnage in the total population of new york citty between 1800, 1900 and 2000. Then tells the chnage in the population of the all five districts of the city manhattan brookln bromx queens and staten island withthe passage of time.

Overall the number of people chnages in newyork city huge amount from year 1800 to 2000.As for the Manhaattan the most population increase was only in 1900 and 2000 was in less percentage. the five districts shows much greater increase in population in 2000 then 1800.

the 1800 to 1900 the population of new york chnaged by almost 70 percent and 90 percent in 2000. However the manhattan and other 5 district have vice versa case, in the 1800 year the population increase was higher in manhattan but lesser increase in other districts but in the year 2000 the population increase was not much in manhattan but much higer increase in population in other 5 districsts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that New York’s population grew and that Manhattan’s share declined while the other districts’ share increased. However, the account is only partly accurate and the key comparisons are not clearly reported. The statement that the population changed by “almost 70 percent” from 1800 to 1900 and “90 percent” by 2000 does not match the table: the total rose from 79,216 to 3,437,202 and then to 8,009,185. You also describe the other districts as having a “much greater increase” without giving their figures or percentages, and refer to “the five districts” where the table groups Manhattan against the other four. Report the overall totals and the shift from Manhattan’s 76% share to 19%, contrasted with the other districts’ rise to 81%.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph attempting to compare changes over time. This gives the reader some sense of the task’s structure. However, progression is weak because the final paragraph repeats the overview rather than organising the data into clear comparisons. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “As for,” and “However” are used, but the contrast introduced by “However” is difficult to follow, and “the 1800 to 1900” does not clearly connect to the figures that follow. Group the information into a clear overview and a data paragraph, then compare Manhattan with the other districts using the same years and explicit figures. This would make the relationships between points easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “total population,” “percentage,” “increase,” and “districts,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or spelling errors make the account less clear: “chnage” is repeated, “vice versa case” is not a natural way to describe the contrasting trends, and “population increase” is used where you mean population share or proportion. Names such as “Manhaattan,” “brookln,” and “bromx” are also misspelled. Aim for precise terms such as “population rose,” “accounted for,” and “share of the total,” and check the spelling of place names. Avoid repeating “increase” when describing both population totals and percentages.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “However,” and a time clause beginning “As for.” Nevertheless, errors in sentence structure and grammatical control are frequent enough to make some relationships unclear. For example, “The tables lists” has subject–verb disagreement, while “the population of the all five districts” has an incorrect article pattern. The sentence beginning “the 1800 to 1900” is not grammatically formed, and “the population increase was higher in Manhattan” does not clearly express whether you mean the number of residents or the percentage share. Use complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, maintain consistent past-tense reporting, and check agreement, articles, and punctuation when joining contrasting ideas.

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