Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-31
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 illustrates how changes in the total population of newyork city between 1800 to 2000.on the other hand second or third tables demonstates the dhanges in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.it is used to measure in percentages.
overall,in the first table the population was increased in 2000.and in the second table the city manhattan population started significant rose by 1800 and dramtically decreased while other district increase the population over the years.
In the first box,the population rate has low in 1800 then eventually increased over the years it has climbed from 3,437,202 to 8,00,9,185 between 1900 to 2000.
The second table has shows that population was top in 1800 around 76% then it has declined in 1900 around 54% moving on in 2000 dramtically went down around 19%.in manhattan city
the third table mentioned all other districts population rate. it was began low level in 1800 around 24% then it has went up significantly in 1900 around 46%. however in 2000 the it has higher rate noted around 81%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the broad pattern that New York’s population grew and that Manhattan’s share fell while the other districts’ share rose. However, the overview is imprecise: saying the population “was increased in 2000” does not clearly summarise the overall rise from 79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000. Some figures are also omitted or misreported: the total-population paragraph starts at 3,437,202, the 1900 figure, rather than comparing all three years, and “8,00,9,185” is incorrectly formatted. The statement that Manhattan “started significant rose by 1800” is unclear and does not capture its rise to 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 in 2000. Report the main changes more accurately and distinguish population counts from percentages.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to details about the tables. This gives the reader some sense of the information being discussed. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview is vague, and the body separates Manhattan and the other districts into “second” and “third” tables even though the data are presented together. Linking phrases such as “on the other hand,” “moving on,” and “however” are sometimes used mechanically or do not show a clear contrast. Several sentences run together without appropriate full stops, making relationships between ideas harder to follow. Group the figures by year or by contrasting trends, and use clear paragraphing and more precise references.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “districts,” “declined,” and “increased,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning unclear. For example, “the population rate has low” is not a natural way to describe a population figure, and “the city manhattan population” is awkward. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “newyork,” “dhamges,” and “dramtically,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for precise terms such as “population total,” “share of the city’s population,” and “rose/fell,” and check spelling and word forms carefully.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts both simple and longer sentence forms, but control is inconsistent, and errors frequently affect clarity. For instance, “The first table illustrates how changes … between 1800 to 2000” lacks a complete grammatical structure and uses an incorrect preposition pattern; “the population was increased” uses an unsuitable passive form; and “it has went up” combines verb forms incorrectly. Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also unreliable, as in “around 19%.in manhattan city,” while articles and sentence structure are often missing or awkward. Practise forming complete sentences with accurate past-tense verbs, such as “Manhattan’s population rose … and then fell,” and use full stops to separate ideas.
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