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 Table Illustrates the changes with two different tables data. The total Population in New York City & with different five districts. Since the year 1800 to 2000.

As per the data in the year 2000 Populations of New where in huge rise of numbers as compare to other district the population was of 6,471,089 in percentage its an high no of 81%, whereas, in year of 1900 was having 46% of population in other district. But when we have analyse the manhattan district the populations in the year of 2000 was gradually down with 19% of population with a rapid downfall.

However, in comparision with Manhattan & other district the year of 1800 has seen a rapid climbs with population with 76%.

Overall,in the year of 2000 in Manhattan district it plummet with very less 19%. which have changed dramatically depicts impact on population.

Other districts like Brooklyn, bronx, queens, staten island in year of 1800 & 1900 in contrast to Manhattan district surge change.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify relevant contrasts, especially Manhattan’s declining share (from 76% to 19%) and the growth of the other districts’ share to 81%. However, the response only partially summarises the tables: it does not report the overall city population figures or clearly describe the full pattern across all three years. Some statements are unclear or inaccurate, such as saying Manhattan’s population “was gradually down” without distinguishing its rise to 1,850,093 in 1900 from its later fall to 1,538,096. The overview is also repeated rather than clearly established. To strengthen the response, select the main trends, state them accurately, and support them with a few key figures from each period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is an attempt to organise the response into paragraphs and to signal contrast with words such as “However,” “Overall,” and “whereas.” Nevertheless, the ideas do not progress in a clear sequence: the discussion moves from 2000 to 1900, then back to 1800, before repeating the 2000 point. Several sentences are difficult to follow, including “The Table Illustrates the changes with two different tables data” and “Other districts … in year of 1800 & 1900 in contrast to Manhattan district surge change.” Linking expressions sometimes connect ideas whose relationship is unclear. Group the information by time period or by Manhattan versus the other districts, and give the overview before the supporting details.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of trend vocabulary, including “rapid downfall,” “plummet,” “surge,” and “dramatically,” showing an effort to describe change rather than simply list figures. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this data: “gradually down” does not describe Manhattan’s rise and subsequent fall, while “rapid climbs” and “surge change” are unclear. Repetition of “population” and general phrases such as “huge rise of numbers” also limits precision. Use vocabulary that matches the direction and scale of the figures, and prefer standard collocations such as “increased substantially,” “declined,” and “accounted for.” Check spelling and capitalisation of district names as well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentences, but control is inconsistent, and errors often make the intended relationships hard to understand. For example, “Since the year 1800 to 2000” is a fragment, and “in the year 2000 Populations of New where in huge rise” lacks a clear subject and verb. There are also problems with articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries, as in “the populations … was” and “Overall,in the year of 2000 … it plummet.” Punctuation and capitalisation are uneven. Build complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, then check tense and agreement; for example, “Manhattan’s population rose to … in 1900 before falling to … in 2000.”

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