Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-01

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 statistics compare the changes in population over period of time in Newyork city. Further stats compare the five districts of Newyork. The comparison starts off with year 1800, where population consensus shows 79,216 people living in the state,where 76 percent of this total population comprises of people living Manhattan where as 24 perent of the popualtion resides in the other four districts of Newyork. We observe a remarkable increase in population by year 1900, where statistics shows an increase from aprrox 80000 to approximately [redacted phone]. Where 54 percent of this population esides in Manhattan and 46 percent lives in the other districts. The current era shows an incraese by 2 folds in population , nearly [redacted phone] people live in Manhattan out of [redacted phone] and the rest of them live in the other livable districts of Newyork city. The statistical also highlights peoples prefernces amongstthe districts of Newyork ,if we study it thoroughly.It is worthy to note that in 18 and 19th century people prefered Manhattan more than the other five districts to live, showing that living standards and accomodation in Manhttan seemed better than the other districts of Newyork. However, the preferences seems to have changed by 2000 , shown by the statistical comparison that people prefer to live in the other districts rather than Manhattan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main broad pattern: New York’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. The figures you give for the total in 1800 and the district percentages in 1800 and 1900 are broadly consistent with the tables. However, the response only partly reports the key data: it does not give the exact 2000 total or the other districts’ 2000 population/share, and it describes the city’s population as increasing “by 2 folds” without clearly comparing the three stages. The claim that residents’ preferences or living standards explain the shift is not supported by the tables. Focus on reporting observable changes and include a clearer overview of the contrasting population trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows a generally chronological order, moving from 1800 to 1900 and then 2000, and uses transitions such as “However” to signal a contrast. This gives the reader some structure. However, the ideas are crowded into one long paragraph, and the progression is weakened by abrupt or incomplete links, such as “Where 54 percent of this population…” and the shift from reporting figures to speculation about residents’ preferences. Some references, including “the rest of them,” are not precise. Separate the overview from the detailed comparisons, use clear paragraphing, and connect each comparison directly to the relevant year and population figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of vocabulary, including “remarkable increase,” “comprises,” and “statistical comparison,” but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing tables. Phrases such as “population consensus,” “current era,” “other livable districts,” and “people prefer to live” either obscure the data or introduce unsupported interpretation. Spelling errors—including “perent,” “popualtion,” “incraese,” and “Manhttan”—also make the writing less clear. Use straightforward, precise terms for population trends and proportions, and check spelling carefully. For example, describe the figures as the city’s population and the districts’ shares rather than as preferences or living standards.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There are attempts to combine clauses and use time references, but control is inconsistent, and complex sentences are often faulty or difficult to follow. For example, “We observe a remarkable increase in population by year 1900, where statistics shows…” has an awkward relative clause and subject–verb disagreement; “Where 54 percent…” is a sentence fragment. Other problems include missing articles and prepositions in “over period of time” and “living Manhattan,” as well as inconsistent punctuation and spacing. These errors sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. Practise building complete sentences around one comparison at a time, checking agreement and articles, and use full stops to avoid run-on sentences.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.