Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-07
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 graphically representation illustrates 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.
The New york all city district population was increase day by in 1800 the population was 79,216 furthermore, on 1900 population did enhance to 3,432,202. After 10 years in 2000 the population was 8,009,185.In 1800 Manhattan the population and percentage was 60,515 and the percentage of total economy was 76%. In 1900 number of people was 1,850,093 moreover, the percentage was 54%. 2000 year people in Manhattan was stand on 1,538,096 and the percentage was 19%. The others percentage and population was in 1800 was 24% of the total population and the population is 18,701. 1900 year percentage was 46% of the population and the population is 1,587,109. In 2000 year population stand on 6,471,089 furthermore, percentage on population was 81%. As compare Manhattan to other districts on first year Manhattan population is high but after ten years in 1900 to 2000 Manhattan population and percentage decrease to the previous one.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You report figures for the city total, Manhattan, and the combined other districts, and most values match the tables. You also identify the key contrast that Manhattan’s share falls while the other districts’ share rises. However, the overview is not clearly separated or fully developed, and the final comparison is imprecise: Manhattan’s population rose from 1800 to 1900 before falling by 2000, rather than simply decreasing after the first year. The city’s 1900 total is also given as 3,432,202 instead of 3,437,202. To strengthen the response, state the main trends clearly at the start and compare the overall growth with the shift in population distribution.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response follows a broadly sensible order, moving from the city total to Manhattan and then the other districts, so the reader can locate the main data. However, the opening breaks into an incomplete list of district names, and the body is largely one long sequence of figures with little paragraphing or clear progression. Connectors such as “furthermore” and “moreover” are repeated and do not always show a meaningful relationship between the data. The final comparison is difficult to follow. Use a brief introduction and overview, then group the figures into focused paragraphs, with comparisons linking the trends rather than listing each year in turn.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
You use some relevant terms, including “population,” “percentage,” and “total population,” which help communicate the subject. However, the vocabulary is repetitive and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, making parts of the report awkward or unclear. For example, “graphically representation” and “total economy” do not describe the tables accurately, while “population was increase day by” and “stand on” are not natural ways to report change or a figure. Spelling and capitalisation are also inconsistent, as in “New york.” Build a small set of precise trend expressions and use them consistently, such as “rose,” “declined,” “accounted for,” and “share.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The response attempts to report several years and make comparisons, but sentence structures are mostly simple or joined with basic connectors, and errors occur throughout. Examples include “The New york all city district population was increase” and “In 2000 year people in Manhattan was stand,” where verb forms and sentence construction make the meaning difficult to process. The opening also contains a sentence fragment: “Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island.” Articles, prepositions, and punctuation are inconsistently controlled, including the run-together sentence after “8,009,185.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and complete sentence patterns before adding more complex comparisons.
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