Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-10
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 given charts illustrate the variations in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000 and the changes in the population in five districts of the city over the same period.
Overall, the population of all districts of the city were increased with time.
The first table chart shows the changes in the total population of the New York City in different years. In 1800, was only 79,216 which was increased in year 1900. The population was 3,437,202. Afterthat, in 2000 the population of all five districts again rose from 3,437,202 to 8,009,185. The second table provides information about population of a particular district (Manthattan) of the city. The population of the Manhattan decreased with years and percentage increased.
Subsquently, in initial year population was 60,515 with 76% and in 2000 it was 1,538,096 with 19%.The third table chart shows the ratio of population and percentage of population in remaining four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island). In this case, both the population and percentile rose. The percentage of total population was 24% in 1800 and population was 18,701. It was increased in 1900 and 2000. the percentage was 46% and 815 respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You identify the broad population growth and include several relevant figures, such as the city total rising from 79,216 to 8,009,185 and Manhattan’s population falling between 1900 and 2000. However, the overview is inaccurate: “the population of all districts … increased” overlooks Manhattan’s decline after 1900. The statement that Manhattan’s “percentage increased” is also the reverse of the data: its share fell from 76% to 19%. The final figure “815” should be 81%, and the 1900 district figures are omitted. These errors and omissions mean the main comparisons are only partly reported. Give a clear overview of the contrasting trends, then accurately compare the three years for Manhattan and the other districts. (12 words copied from the task prompt were not counted.)
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a basic structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate discussion of the total, Manhattan and the remaining districts. This gives the reader some sense of how the information is grouped. However, progression is uneven: the overview is very brief, and the body moves between figures without consistently comparing the same years or categories. Linking expressions such as “Afterthat,” “Subsequently” and “In this case” are used, but some are awkward or do not clearly show the relationship between the data. The final sentence also ends abruptly after the incorrect “815.” Organise the body around clear comparisons—for example, total growth first, then the contrasting district shares—and use precise references to connect each figure to its year and category.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “total population,” “district,” “percentage” and “rose,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or repetitive. “The changes in the population” and “the population … rose” recur, while “ratio” and “percentile” do not accurately describe the figures shown; these are population shares or percentages. “The given charts” is also imprecise because the visuals are tables. Spelling errors such as “Manthattan” and “Subsquently,” along with the joined form “Afterthat,” reduce control. Build a more precise range for describing trends and proportions, and check spelling and collocations before submitting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts a few longer sentences, including “The first table chart shows…” and “The third table chart shows…,” but most structures are simple and several are faulty. For example, “the population of all districts … were increased” has incorrect agreement and verb form, while “In 1800, was only 79,216” is missing a subject. “The population of the Manhattan decreased” uses an unnecessary article, and “the percentage increased” does not form a clear grammatical comparison with the intended data. Punctuation and sentence boundaries are also inconsistent, including the missing space after “19%.” Use complete subject–verb sentences and practise accurate past-tense comparisons, such as “Manhattan’s population rose to … in 1900, then fell to … by 2000.”
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.