Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-04

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 three tables illustrate the changes in the population of New York city and its four boroughs. The population of New York sharply increased each year while Manhattan growth rate despite of increasing show lesser share in population in coming years. The other four cities, especially in the last century, show a significant rise in their share of the population.

From the eighteenth century to the twentieth century, there was a dramatic increase in population growth in New York, from 79216 to [redacted phone].

In 1800, Manhattan shared 76% of the total population, with 60515. However, its share of the total population fell to 54% and finally to 19% in the next two centuries despite of an increasing growth rate. The other four districts shows significant rise in growth as well as the total share to population in

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main contrast: New York’s total population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share increased. The figures you give for 1800 and 2000, and Manhattan’s percentages, match the tables. However, the response is incomplete: it ends mid-sentence after “in,” and does not report the other districts’ final population or explain the 1900-to-2000 change. The overview also says the city’s population increased “each year,” although only three years are shown, and “Manhattan growth rate” is unclear because its population actually fell between 1900 and 2000. The response is 13 words below the required minimum. Include a complete summary with key comparisons and accurate descriptions of the three dates.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, beginning with an overview and then moving to figures for the total population and Manhattan. Linking expressions such as “However” and “From…to…” help signal comparisons and time. Nevertheless, the progression is limited: the final paragraph starts discussing the other districts but stops abruptly, leaving the comparison unfinished. Some references are also unclear, particularly “its share” and “in the next two centuries,” which makes the timeline less precise. Develop a clear paragraph structure—overview followed by grouped comparisons—and ensure each paragraph reaches a complete point. Use time references such as “by 1900” and “by 2000” to make the sequence easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some suitable task vocabulary, including “dramatic increase,” “total population,” “share,” and “significant rise,” and these choices communicate the broad trends. However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or awkward, such as “Manhattan growth rate,” “growth rate despite of increasing,” and “total share to population.” “The other four cities” is also an imprecise label for the boroughs or districts. These choices sometimes make the intended comparison difficult to interpret. Aim for precise collocations such as “Manhattan’s population,” “accounted for,” and “the combined population of the other four districts.” Avoid repeating general terms like “significant rise” when a specific trend or figure can be stated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some complex sentence forms, for example, “In 1800, Manhattan shared 76% of the total population, with 60515,” and uses a contrast clause beginning with “However.” However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and several sentence patterns are faulty: “Manhattan growth rate despite of increasing show lesser share” lacks clear structure and agreement, while “The other four districts shows” has a subject–verb agreement error. The phrase “despite of an increasing growth rate” also has an incorrect preposition pattern, and the final sentence is incomplete. Use complete, controlled sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and check agreement, articles, and clause structure. A wider range will be more effective when the basic sentence patterns are accurate.

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