Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-14

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 first table represents the total population of new york city from 1800 to 2000. The other two tables illustrates differance in the population of the five districts of the city such as Manhattan,Brooklyn,Bronx,Queens,Staten Island over the decade.

Overall it is noticeable that the highest population was lived in new york 2000 among 3 tables. Similarly in 1800 population was only 79,216.In new york and 19% in manhattan in 2000.

A glance at the table reveals highest population was reported in manhattan approx 76% in 1800 which was dropped 54% in 1900. Although in new york of all five cities population was in 1900 3,437,202.

A further analysis of last table other districts data such as brooklyn,bronx,queens,staten island.IN year 1800 population was about only 24% which was rised in 1900 and it was 46% and after the decade it was went up 81% which was majorly increased population in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, including Manhattan’s declining share and the other districts’ rising share. However, the response only partially reports the main features: it gives few accurate comparisons of population totals and does not clearly explain that the city’s population rose from 79,216 to 8,009,185, while Manhattan’s actual population fell between 1900 and 2000. The overview is unclear, and the statement that the highest population “was lived in new york 2000” does not communicate a precise trend. The response is also below the required 150 words: it contains 124 words, with 30 words copied from the prompt excluded. Add a clear overview and select key figures to support the comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is an attempt to organise the response into an introduction, an overview and paragraphs about Manhattan and the other districts. This gives the reader some indication of the intended structure. However, progression is difficult to follow because ideas are sometimes placed together without a clear relationship, as in “In new york and 19% in manhattan in 2000.” Linking expressions such as “Similarly,” “Although” and “A further analysis” are used, but some do not accurately connect the information that follows. The final paragraph also combines several years and figures in one long sequence. Use one paragraph for the overall trends and separate, clearly ordered comparisons, with each sentence focused on a specific year or change.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant vocabulary for describing tables and change, including “population,” “percentage,” “dropped” and “increased.” This shows a basic ability to discuss the topic. However, the range is limited, and several word choices or collocations make the meaning unclear: “the highest population was lived,” “differance in the population,” and “it was went up” are not natural ways to describe the data. There are also noticeable spelling and form errors, including “differance,” “rised” and inconsistent capitalisation of place names. Build a small set of accurate data-reporting phrases, such as “accounted for,” “rose to,” “fell to” and “the population stood at,” and check spelling and place-name capitalisation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, including a contrast introduced by “Although” and a relative clause in the opening. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make several sentences difficult to interpret. Examples include “The other two tables illustrates,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “it was went up,” which uses an incorrect verb form. The sentence beginning “Overall it is noticeable” also joins incomplete or unclear ideas, while punctuation and sentence boundaries are inconsistent. Practise forming accurate past-tense comparisons with a clear subject and verb—for example, “Manhattan’s share fell from 54% to 19%”—before adding more complex clauses.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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