Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-30

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 given table illustrates information about the total population in New York, and the five districts of the city over the period from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, it is clear that population increased significantly in all city or districts, while in 1800 years poplution under one lakh. Futhermore, New York city were the most population major in 2000 year.

In the evident that, in 1800 to 2000 years New york become had the highest figure population show in given table. While in 1900 year only New york city crose three lakh poplution.

To continue, in 1800 Manhattan given highest percentage growth poplution around 76%. In comparsion, 1900 and 2000 its flow down at around 54% and 19%. By constract, compare all 2000s year popluation Manhattan made lowest figure in given all three table.

Turning to, other districts its show grow in every year which is 24%, 46% and 81%. In 2000 other districts are the second districts which population around 6 lakhs.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and the changing shares of Manhattan and the other districts, so the response is relevant to the tables. However, the overview is unclear and some key comparisons are inaccurate or incomplete. The city’s population rose from 79,216 to 8,009,185, but “New York city were the most population major in 2000” does not clearly report this trend. You also say the city “crose three lakh” in 1900, although the table gives 3,437,202, and describe the other districts as having “around 6 lakhs” in 2000, rather than 6,471,089. Focus on accurate headline figures and explain that Manhattan’s population peaked in 1900 before falling, while the other districts continued to grow.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has separate paragraphs and attempts to organise information with phrases such as “Overall,” “To continue,” and “Turning to.” This gives it some structure, but the progression is not consistently clear: the third paragraph repeats the claim that New York had the highest population without adding a precise comparison, and the relationship between the city total and district figures is not explained. Several linking expressions are awkward or do not signal the intended relationship, including “In the evident that” and “By constract.” Group the overview first, then compare Manhattan’s figures in one section and the other districts in another. Use straightforward links such as “By contrast” only when making a genuine comparison, and make references like “its” unambiguous.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “highest figure,” and “in comparison,” and you attempt to describe change. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the meaning difficult to follow: “highest percentage growth population” confuses a population share with growth, while “its flow down” is not a natural way to describe a declining share. Spelling errors such as “poplution,” “Futhermore,” and “constract” are also noticeable. Choose precise terms for the data: Manhattan’s share “fell” from 76% to 19%, whereas the other districts’ combined share “rose.” Check spelling and use standard expressions such as “the population of the city” and “accounted for.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt a few longer structures, including “while” and “in comparison,” but most sentences rely on simple patterns, and attempts at more complex sentences are often faulty. Examples include “population increased significantly in all city or districts,” “New York city were,” and “in 1800 to 2000 years New york become had.” These errors in agreement, tense, and sentence construction sometimes obscure the intended meaning. Articles and prepositions also need attention, as in “in 1800 years” and “in 2000 year.” Build clear sentences with a subject and verb, for example, “The city’s population increased substantially between 1800 and 2000.” Practise past-tense reporting and check singular/plural agreement before adding more complex clauses.

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

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