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)

The provided table illustrates the information of the different cities population between in the 1800 to 2000. On the other hand also presents the population exchange in the different city districts.

Overall, It can be seen that the population of the New York city increased dramatically overall the period. while the proportion of the people living in the Manhattan declined significantly, the percentage of residents in other districts saw a considerable rise.

At the started, In 1800, The NYC had only 79216 people, but this figure grew sharply to 3,437,202 million in 1900, and reached 8 million in 2000. Manhatte had 60,515 in 1800 and i also incresed slightly1,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main overall trends: New York City’s population rose substantially, Manhattan’s share fell, and the other districts’ share increased. You also include the correct 1800 total and the 1900 total, although “3,437,202 million” misrepresents the figure. However, the response covers only a small part of the data: it stops before explaining Manhattan’s decline after 1900 or the growth of the other districts, and gives no comparisons using their populations or percentages. The response is also below the required 150 words, so the report is incomplete. To develop the task more fully, report the key figures for all three years and compare the contrasting trends clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the report, with an opening, an overview, and a paragraph beginning to describe figures. The overview’s contrast between Manhattan and the other districts gives the reader a useful direction. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph ends abruptly after “i also incresed slightly1,” leaving the data discussion unfinished. Some linking is awkward or inaccurate: “On the other hand also” does not form a clear connection, and “while” begins a new sentence after a full stop. Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, which further interrupts the flow. Use complete paragraphs to group the overall figures and district comparisons, and connect each point with clear, accurate transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “increased dramatically,” “declined significantly,” “proportion,” and “considerable rise.” These choices help communicate the main trends. However, the range is limited, and several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “the information of the different cities population,” “population exchange,” and “grew sharply to 3,437,202 million.” The spelling “Manhatte” and “incresed” also reduces accuracy. Choose precise terms such as “population figures,” “changes in population,” and “rose to 3,437,202,” without adding “million” to an already exact number. A broader set of accurate verbs and comparison phrases would make the report clearer and more suitable for an academic summary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex structures, including the contrast in “while the proportion … declined …, the percentage … saw a considerable rise.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur in basic sentence construction as well as in longer sentences. For example, “between in the 1800 to 2000” has an incorrect preposition pattern, while “At the started” and “the NYC had” show problems with verb form and article use. The sentence beginning “The provided table illustrates…” is also awkwardly constructed, and the final sentence is incomplete. Capital letters and punctuation are unreliable, including the lower-case “while” after a full stop. Practise accurate sentence patterns for introducing tables and describing changes, then check each sentence for completeness.

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

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