Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-11

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 illustrates the comparison of population between five cities of new york ( Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island ) from 1800 to 2000. This population can be measured in percentage.

Overall, highest amount of population lived in Manhattan in 1800 and 1900. In contrast these population declined in other disctrict. But in 2000, highest portion of population lived in other districts rather then Menhattan.

In 1800,Mahattan dominated other cities in regard of population with 60,515, representing 76% of the total. Furthermore, by 1900, It is second highest distict in term of population with [redacted phone], accounting by 54% of the total. In contrast, the least amount of population lived in Manhattan citie with [redacted phone], forming 19% of the total.

Moreover, in 1800 and 1900, other districts population shared the smallest ratio of population with 18701 and [redacted phone], accounted ony 24% and 46% of the total, respectively. Although, during 2000 that cities population rosed by 81% of the total with [redacted phone] in numbers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main shift in the distribution: Manhattan held the largest share in 1800 and 1900, while the other districts dominated by 2000. Several figures are also reported accurately, including Manhattan’s 60,515 and 76% in 1800 and the other districts’ 6,471,089 and 81% in 2000. However, coverage is partial because the overall growth in New York City’s total population—from 79,216 to 8,009,185—is omitted, despite being shown in the first table. Some comparisons are also unclear: Manhattan’s 2000 population is described as the “least” without specifying that this is among the two groups presented. Include the citywide trend and make the comparisons more precise to develop the summary more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an opening, an overview and paragraphs describing the three years. Time markers such as “In 1800,” “by 1900” and “in 2000” help readers follow the data. However, progression within the report is not always clear: the third paragraph moves from Manhattan’s 1900 figure to its 2000 figure using “In contrast,” but the comparison is not fully explained. The final paragraph repeats the earlier years before returning to 2000, and connectors such as “Moreover” and “Although” do not always express the relationship accurately. Group the information consistently by period or by population group, and use linking words only when their logical relationship is clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of report vocabulary, including “representing,” “accounting” and “portion,” and the reader can generally understand the intended comparisons. However, the range is limited and several choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “highest amount of population,” “population shared the smallest ratio” and “population rosed by 81%.” Repeated use of “population” and “districts” also makes the report less precise. There are noticeable spelling errors in “disctrict,” “Menhattan,” “Mahattan” and “ony,” which reduce accuracy. Use standard terms such as “population share,” “accounted for” and “increased,” and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple statements and some longer structures, including “Although, during 2000…” and clauses introduced by “with” and “representing.” However, attempts at complex sentences are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some relationships difficult to follow. For example, “In contrast these population declined in other disctrict” has an unclear subject and incorrect agreement, while “accounting by 54%” uses an incorrect grammatical pattern. “Although” is also used without a complete contrasting clause in the final paragraph. Work on subject–verb agreement, articles and sentence boundaries, and practise accurate patterns such as “accounted for 54%” and “the population of the other districts increased.”

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