Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-29

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 first table gives information about various changes in the total population of New York town between 1800 and 2000. The another two tables illustrate differences in the population of the five different districts of the rural areas(Manhattan Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island) over the same time period.

Overall, in the first table the total population increased for every century years of five districts while, in the second table the percentages decreased gradually at Manhattan and in the third table almost doubled in percentages of total population.

In the year 1800, the total people in the New York city were 79,216 With a sudden increment it reached to [redacted phone] in 1900 and in the year 2000 it was almost thries the population of 19th century.

In the most of the pollution was in manhattan in 18th centurey with 76% while, in others with 18,701 population. In the same way 19th century it was declined to 54% with [redacted phone] in Manhattan and in 20th century it fall to 19%. Although in other cities the percentage was doubled to preveres years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad trends: New York’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. You also include several relevant figures, such as 79,216 in 1800 and Manhattan’s 76% share. However, coverage is partial and some key comparisons are unclear or inaccurate. The total in 2000 was about 2.3 times the 1900 figure, not “almost thries” (three times). The other districts’ share rose from 24% to 46% to 81%, so it did not simply “almost double” across the period. The response also omits the 2000 population figures for Manhattan and the other districts. Report the main changes more precisely and compare both population totals and proportions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details, and it uses some linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In the same way,” and “Although.” However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview refers to “the second table” and “the third table,” although the information is better organised by Manhattan and the other districts. The final paragraph combines several dates and comparisons in a way that makes the relationships difficult to follow, and “Although” introduces no complete contrast. Use one paragraph for the overall trends and separate detail paragraphs for the total population and district figures. Clearer references and more accurate links between sentences would make the organisation easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “total population,” “percentages,” “increment,” and “declined,” so the reader can recognise the subject and general trends. However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning difficult to interpret. “New York town” and “rural areas” misdescribe the city and its districts; “pollution” appears where you mean population, and “preveres” is unclear. There are also spelling errors such as “thries,” “centurey,” and “staten island.” Aim for precise, conventional terms for population data, and check spelling and collocations. For example, describe a population as “rose” or “increased,” and a share as “fell” or “accounted for.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “Although” and a time clause beginning “In the year 1800.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors in sentence construction, articles, agreement, and punctuation sometimes make the information hard to follow. Examples include “The another two tables,” “the total population increased for every century years,” and “in the year 2000 it was almost thries the population.” Several sentences also run together or lack appropriate punctuation, as in the opening of the third paragraph. Practise building clear subject–verb sentences and checking articles and verb forms. For instance, write “The population increased in each period” and use a full stop to separate distinct comparisons.

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