Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-28

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)

in the 1800 centuries nee york population is 79216. it was almost less rhen after some years population increased and near the 1900 many population incresed.almost in 1900 population was [redacted phone] . population increase very speedly after some year again population increase near rhe 2000 population very big almost population reached [redacted phone] .it was very high population compare to 1800 and 1900 centuries.

manhattan population was less compare to new york in 1800 century .the population was almost 60515.but it increase very speedly.after some years it incresed and reached [redacted phone].it was very large population in less time .it was increased very speedly .but 1900 century population increased more and reached almost [redacted phone].it was the time when population was on the peak.but persentage was less as cimpare to total population.persentage was almost 19 and before percentage was 76.

the others districts such as bronkx, queens ,brooklyn ,iseland population was less compare to newyark and Manhattan it was almost 18701 in 1800 century that is less averyone.it was increase in 1900 and reached near the [redacted phone].but it was less other both countries in 1900.and 2000 it reached almost [redacted phone] that was very increase but les then other countries .if compare new yark and Manhattan then these other countries newyork population is very hogh then Manhattan ans then the other countries according given question

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s total population, from 79,216 in 1800 to about 8 million in 2000, and note that Manhattan’s share fell while the other districts’ share grew. However, the account only partially reports the main features, and several comparisons are unclear or inaccurate. For example, you say Manhattan reached 1,587,109 after 1800, but that figure belongs to the other districts in 1900; Manhattan was 1,850,093 in 1900 and then declined to 1,538,096 by 2000. You also describe Manhattan as being at its peak in 2000, despite its earlier higher population. Give a concise overview and compare the key changes accurately, especially the shift in population toward the other districts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has three broad sections, moving from the city total to Manhattan and then the other districts, so the reader can recognise the intended topics. However, progression within paragraphs is often difficult to follow, and ideas are linked mainly through repeated phrases such as “after some years,” “it was increased,” and “but.” References such as “it” and “these other countries” are unclear, particularly in the final paragraph, where districts are mistakenly referred to as countries. Some comparisons also appear in an order that makes the timeline confusing. Organise the response by the main trends, use clear time markers such as “by 1900” and “by 2000,” and make each comparison’s subject explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use a small set of relevant terms, including “population,” “percentage,” “increased,” and “reached,” which helps communicate the topic. However, vocabulary is repetitive and often imprecise, and spelling errors are frequent: “incresed,” “persentage,” “Manhattan,” and “Newyark” are examples. Several expressions are not natural for describing data, such as “population increase very speedly,” “very big,” and “less compare to.” The phrase “other countries” also mislabels the districts and affects clarity. Build a more accurate range of trend and comparison language, for example “rose sharply,” “accounted for,” “declined,” and “a larger share,” and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

Most sentences rely on simple clauses, and attempts to connect ideas often produce faulty structures. Examples include “it was almost less rhen after some years population increased” and “if compare new yark and Manhattan,” where the relationships between clauses are not grammatically clear. Verb forms and agreement are also inconsistent, as in “it increase” and “it was increase,” while articles and sentence boundaries are frequently missing or misplaced. These recurring errors sometimes make the intended comparison difficult to understand. Practise accurate simple past forms for the historical figures, and build controlled comparison sentences, such as “Manhattan’s population rose to … by 1900, then fell to … by 2000.” Use full stops to separate complete ideas.

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