Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-03
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)
In these colomns we're given population record throughout the years 1800,1900 and 2000 of different district including New York, Manhattan,Bronx,Queens and State island.We will disscussing population trends throughout these years in different districts of a country.
The data shows increase in number of population throughout years in all the district except Manhattan where we can see decrease in the number of residents in city during a year of 2000, and a percentage shift from 54% in year of 1900 to 19% as of total population,while other district (New York,Bronx,Queens and State island) show a positive trend in percentage with regards to tatal population as it was around 24%% in 1800 and reaches to 81% in 2000 .
New yorks data presented in table also show a positive trend throughout it's all district as number of population increases drastically through out year of 1800,1900 and 2000.
Overall it'a a increse in population except manhatan that need to be look for.
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 main contrast: Manhattan’s population share falls, while the other districts’ combined share rises, and you note that the city’s population grows overall. These are relevant features. However, the account is only partial and some details are inaccurate or unclear. The other districts are not “New York” (they are Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island), and their share was 46% in 1900, not just the 24% and 81% endpoints you mention. The city’s total population is described only as increasing “drastically,” without reporting any figures or clearly comparing the three dates. Manhattan’s population also rose from 1800 to 1900 before falling by 2000, a key trend that is omitted. Select and report these changes more precisely, with a clear overview.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
There is some organisation: the response begins with an introduction, then describes broad trends, and ends with an overall statement. However, the progression is not clear because the same general point about population growth is repeated, and the final sentence adds little. Connections between ideas are sometimes awkward; for example, the long second paragraph joins Manhattan’s decline and the other districts’ share increase without clearly separating the comparisons. References such as “other district” and “it” are also not always precise. Use a clearer sequence—introduce the tables, give an overview, then compare Manhattan with the combined other districts and report the city total. Paragraphing and linking should guide the reader rather than repeat information.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some task-related vocabulary, including “population,” “residents,” “percentage,” “increase” and “decrease,” so the basic subject is understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “population record,” “positive trend in percentage,” and “need to be look for.” Repeated use of “trend” and “population” also makes the description less precise. There are noticeable spelling errors, including “colomns,” “disscussing,” “tatal,” “increse” and “manhatan,” which reduce clarity and control. Aim for accurate, conventional language for describing data, such as “population figures,” “accounted for,” “rose” and “declined,” and check spelling and word forms carefully.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts some longer sentences, including a sentence contrasting Manhattan with the other districts, but complex structures are often faulty and the range remains limited. Examples include “We will disscussing,” where the verb form is incorrect, and “a percentage shift from 54% in year of 1900 to 19% as of total population,” which lacks a clear grammatical structure. There are also problems with articles and sentence construction in “during a year of 2000” and “Overall it'a a increse in population.” Punctuation is inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and unclear sentence boundaries. Practise building accurate simple comparisons first, then combine them using controlled clauses such as “while” and “whereas.”
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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