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 table chart provide information about changes in the total population in NEW YORK City in year 1800 and 2000. However second and third table gives detail about changes in the population of the five districts of the city.

Overall it is clear that, the table chart provide informatin about three tables, which gives information about New York City.

Looking at the frist table, in year 1800 the population of new york city was 79,216 and in the year 1900 the counting of people was 3,437,202. Moreover, in 2000 the population increased at 8,00,185.

Turning to the point, in second and third table the information about five cities. In year 1800 the population of manhattan was 60,515 of the total 76%. In year 1900 this population was 54% of the total population and in 2000 this number increased at 1,538,096, which was 19% of the population. Other cities like Brooklyn, Queens, Staten and Island population were calculated in year 1800 was 18,701 and in year 1900 this number was the 1,587,109, which was the 46% of the total. While in year 2000 the data for population was the 6,471,089 and this was increased at 81% of the total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the broad subject and report several relevant figures, including the 1800 and 1900 city totals and the changing shares of Manhattan and the other districts. However, the overview is not a meaningful summary of the main trends: “the table chart provide information” merely repeats what the tables show. There is also a significant factual error: the 2000 city total is written as “8,00,185” instead of 8,009,185. The account does not clearly highlight that Manhattan’s population rose to 1,850,093 by 1900 and then fell, while the other districts grew substantially and became the majority by 2000. Develop a concise overview and compare these contrasting trends accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction to the city total and then to the district figures. Linking expressions such as “Moreover,” “Turning to the point,” and “While” show an attempt to connect information. However, progression is limited because the overview repeats the introduction rather than guiding the reader through the main comparisons. The final paragraph combines several figures in a long sequence, and references such as “this population” and “this number” are not always immediately clear. Organise the body around the contrasting patterns—Manhattan and the other districts—and use clearer references and more purposeful transitions to make the information easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “population,” “total,” “districts,” and “increased,” so the subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, such as “the counting of people,” “the information about five cities,” and “the data for population.” Some word choices also make comparisons awkward: “increased at” is used where a more precise trend expression is needed. Spelling errors such as “informatin” and “frist,” along with inconsistent capitalisation of “New York,” reduce accuracy. Build a more varied set of terms for describing figures, proportions, rises, falls, and comparisons, and check spelling and proper nouns carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including clauses joined with “which” and “while,” and the reader can usually understand the intended comparisons. However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur in basic sentence patterns as well as longer structures. For example, “The table chart provide” has subject–verb disagreement, while “second and third table gives” also needs agreement and articles. The opening sentence is awkwardly joined with “However,” and several phrases lack grammatical accuracy, including “the population increased at 8,00,185.” Use a wider range of accurately controlled sentence forms, check singular and plural agreement, and make sure each sentence clearly expresses whether a figure is a population total or a percentage.

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