Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-12

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)

There are three tables given, which are showing the difference in population of two main cities like New York and Manhattan and in third table is it showing some other districts population like Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island combine. The population of New York was seventy nine thousand two hundred sixteen in 1800's where'as the population of Manhattan was sixty thousand five hundred and fifteen and other dsitricts population was eighteen thousand seven hundred and one.

And in 1900's it goes upto three million four hundred and thirty seven thousand and two hundred two for New York City, one million eight hundred thousand fifty thousand and ninty three for Manhattan and for Other Districts combine it goes upto one million five hundred and eighty seven thousand one hundred and nine.

In 2000s, population it goes upto eight million nine thousand one hundred eighty five in New York City. In Manhanttan is goes upto one million five hundred and thirty eight thousand and ninty six, In Other Districts it goes upto six million four hundred and seventy one thousand and eighty nine.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You report the main population figures for all three years and distinguish Manhattan from the combined other districts, so the response is relevant to the tables. However, it mainly lists data rather than summarising the key changes. There is no clear overview of the major pattern: New York City’s population rose sharply overall, while Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19% and the other districts’ share increased. Some figures are also misreported: in 1900, Manhattan had 1,850,093 people, not “one million eight hundred thousand fifty thousand and ninty three”; in 2000, the city total was 8,009,185, not “eight million nine thousand…”. Select the main trends and compare them accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a basic chronological order, moving from 1800 to 1900 and then 2000, which helps the reader locate the information. However, it is presented as one long paragraph, and the repeated openings “And in 1900’s” and “In 2000s” make the progression mechanical. The first sentence also introduces the tables awkwardly, and the relationship between the city total and the district figures is not always clearly signposted. Organise the response into a short introduction, an overview, and one or two data paragraphs. Use linking expressions to show contrast and change—for example, explain that Manhattan’s population fell after 1900 while the other districts continued to grow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to identify the topic and report basic quantities, using terms such as “population,” “districts,” and “combine.” However, the range is limited, and several choices or spellings reduce clarity: “difference in population” is not a natural way to introduce the data, “goes upto” is repeated, and “dsitricts,” “Manhanttan,” and “ninty” are misspelled. “Other Districts combine” is also an awkward phrase. Use more precise reporting language such as “population figures,” “rose to,” “declined to,” and “the remaining four districts combined.” Check spellings carefully, especially for place names and number words, and avoid repeating the same basic verb throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to form longer sentences and use time references, but sentence structures are limited and errors occur frequently. For example, “There are three tables given, which are showing” uses an awkward relative clause and tense, while “In Manhanttan is goes upto” has an incorrect subject–verb structure. The opening sentence also contains a fragment-like construction: “and in third table is it showing…”. Articles, plurals, and punctuation are inconsistent, and the repeated sentence pattern limits grammatical range. Practise clear subject–verb sentences, such as “Manhattan’s population was…” and “The population of the other districts rose…”. Use past simple consistently when describing these historical figures.

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