Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-08

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 illustrate the difference in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. Simulteniously, second and third table compared in percentage in the population of the five cities.

Overall, New York City has count highest population during 2000. On the other side, manhattan accounted largest ratio during 1800 and lowest in 2000. Meanwhile, other cities (Brooklyn, Bronx, Oueens, Staten island) registered the small ration in 1800 and big ratio in 2000.

In 1800, Manhattan registerd 60515 of the total population, accounting for 76% of the total population of New york City. Simultaneously, other districts represented only 18701 residents, 24%.

In 1900 and 2000, Manhanttan formed 1,850,093 and 1,538,096 of the total population (54%).and 919%) , respectively. Throughout the period, other cities constituted 1,587,109 (46%) and 6,471,089 (81%), simultaneously. Other city data reflect the total growth. Although, Manhattan represent the population decline over the period of time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main contrast: Manhattan’s share falls while the combined share of the other districts rises, and you include relevant figures for all three years. However, coverage is partial and some reporting is inaccurate or unclear. The overview says New York had its highest population in 2000 but does not clearly summarise the city’s substantial overall growth. More importantly, “(54%).and 919%)” misreports the 2000 Manhattan share, which was 19%, and the sentence does not clearly distinguish the two years. The response also contains only 139 words, below the required 150, so the account is underdeveloped. Add a clear comparison of the total population across the years and report the key figures accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs presenting figures. This gives the reader some organisation, and the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts is a useful basis for progression. However, the sequence is not consistently clear. The final paragraph combines both later years in a confusing sentence, especially “(54%).and 919%)”, and “respectively” does not make the figures’ year-by-year relationship clear. Linking expressions such as “Simultaneously,” “On the other side,” and “Although” are sometimes awkward or do not express the intended relationship. Use one paragraph for the overall trend and group the data by year or by district, with clear references and simpler transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “accounted,” “represented,” “constituted,” and “population decline,” and the reader can generally identify the topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “the difference in the total population” is less precise than describing changes, while “largest ratio” and “small ration” are not natural ways to describe population shares. “Other cities” is also inaccurate here because the figures refer to districts. Spelling errors such as “Simulteniously,” “Oueens,” and “Manhanttan” further weaken control. Aim for precise terms such as “proportion,” “share,” and “districts,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including “Although, Manhattan represent the population decline over the period of time,” but grammatical control is inconsistent and errors sometimes make relationships unclear. Subject–verb agreement is faulty in “The first table illustrate” and “Manhattan registerd”; articles are missing in “second and third table”; and tense and sentence construction are problematic in “Manhattan formed … (54%).and 919%)”. Punctuation also disrupts readability, particularly the full stop before “and” and the comma after “Although.” Most sentences follow basic patterns, with limited accurate variety. Practise consistent past-tense reporting, agreement, articles, and punctuation, then build longer comparisons from accurate clauses.

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