Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-27

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 give a comparison of changes in total population of New york City, including changes in population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, there was increase in significient number of people throughout the years. Also the Manthattan district was the leading in increase in population.

From the years 1800 to 1900, a large number of population increased, speachily in Manthattan with 54% increase, the district also saw a deceant increase in population in next century with total number rising to [redacted phone] in 2000.

The rest of the districts also saw significient increase in population from total population of districts of 18701 to [redacted phone] in just one century from the years 1800 to 1900. The overall population of other districts saw a majoor increased in next century in year 2000, with total number of population increased 81% with number going to [redacted phone].

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and compare Manhattan with the other districts, so the response is relevant to the tables. However, the overview is inaccurate: Manhattan was not the leading district in population increase across the whole period. Its population rose to 1,850,093 by 1900, then fell to 1,538,096, while the other districts grew substantially. The claim of a “54% increase” also misreads the table: 54% is Manhattan’s share of the city’s population in 1900. The response omits the total city figures and gives limited coverage of the key shift in population share. It is also 10 words below the 150-word minimum, with 14 prompt words excluded from the count. Develop a clearer overview and report the figures and percentages accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs comparing Manhattan with the other districts. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “From the years 1800 to 1900” help signal time. However, progression is limited because the overview is not followed by a clear, systematic comparison of all three years. The repeated use of “increase” and “population” makes the links between ideas mechanical, while “the district also saw…” does not clearly distinguish the change in Manhattan’s population from its changing share of the city total. Use a consistent chronological structure and linking language that clarifies whether each figure refers to population or percentage share.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “total population,” “districts,” “rising,” and “overall.” However, the range is limited and several inaccurate word choices or spelling errors make the report less precise. “Leading in increase” is not a natural way to describe the figures, and “54% increase” confuses a population share with a rate of growth. There are also misspellings such as “significient,” “speachily,” “deceant,” and “majoor.” These errors are noticeable and sometimes obscure the intended meaning. Aim for accurate terms such as “accounted for,” “population share,” and “declined,” and check spelling carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response includes both simple statements and some longer sentences, for example the sentence beginning “The rest of the districts also saw…,” but the range is limited and errors occur frequently. Missing or incorrect articles appear in “there was increase” and “the leading in increase,” while “a large number of population increased” uses an inaccurate grammatical construction. The final sentence also has an awkward structure: “with total number of population increased 81%.” These patterns make some relationships between the figures difficult to follow. Practise forming clear comparisons with accurate subjects and verbs, such as “Manhattan’s population rose…” and “the other districts’ share increased to 81%.”

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

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