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 below shows changes in the total population of New York City and five districts of the New York from 1800 to 2000.The table shows a significant increase in the population of New York and its other five districts.

The table shows a surge in the population of New york city after every hundred year and and the second and third table shows a rise of population in the five districts of New York city and the amount of percentage increased after every hundred years.

The first table shows the constant increase in population of New York city. In 1800 the population of New York was 79,216 and after 100 years in the population increase significantly and the total count of population was 3,437,202 and then in 2000 the total number of population further rise ant the total count was 8,009,185.

The second and third table shows the increase in number of population in 5 different districts of New York it was observed that the increase in the percentage of population in Manhattan increases but with the passage of time the percentage drops to 19 percent.while,other 4 districts shows an increase in the percentage of population after every 100 year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and include the correct total figures for all three years. You also note the key shift in population share: Manhattan’s proportion falls to 19%, while the other districts’ share grows. However, the account is only partly developed. The statement that Manhattan’s population “increases” is misleading: its population rises to 1,850,093 by 1900, then falls to 1,538,096 in 2000. The other districts’ population increases substantially, but their share rises from 24% to 81%; it does not increase at every interval in the same way as the total. Add a clear overview and compare both population counts and percentages accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction to the citywide figures and then to the district data. This gives the reader some organisation, and time markers such as “In 1800” and “after 100 years” help establish chronology. However, progression is limited by repeated statements that the population increased, especially in the opening, and the overview is not clearly separated from the details. Linking is also sometimes awkward: “while,other 4 districts” does not connect the comparison smoothly, and the final paragraph combines several points without clear sequencing. Organise the response around an overview followed by focused comparisons, and use linking phrases to show contrast and change precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “significant increase,” and “surge,” so the main subject is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several expressions are repetitive or imprecise, such as “total count of population” and repeated uses of “increase.” Some word choices also obscure the data: saying Manhattan’s population “increases” does not describe its fall between 1900 and 2000, and “amount of percentage increased” is not a natural way to describe a changing share. Spelling and form errors, including “New york” and “ant,” also reduce accuracy. Use precise terms such as “population share,” “declined,” and “accounted for” to report the comparisons.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentences, and the main figures can usually be understood. However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent: “The tables below shows” and “the second and third table shows” should use plural agreement. There are also faulty verb forms and sentence construction in “after 100 years in the population increase significantly” and “the total number of population further rise.” Punctuation and spacing are unreliable, including missing spaces after full stops and the comma in “while,other.” Build accurate simple sentences first, then add complex structures with controlled clauses and consistent past-tense reporting.

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