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 population in new york of five districts from the year 1800 to 2000 , the population in 1800 was 79,216, gradually increasing up to 8,009,185. The table for the Manhattan district describes the population in counts as well as in percentage of total population. The Manhattan district shows the highest percentage of population in the year 1900 , which is 54% a count of 1850,093 which is the highest among all the years. The second table consists of other districts. This also shows the highest percentage in 2000 that 81% , count of [redacted phone] and the lowest was in 1800 was 24% of the population. so if we compate the manhattan and other five districts the manhattan lowest in 2000 was about 19% of population while the other five districts has also lowest at 1800 was 24% but it was also less than manhattan it means if we compare both of he popularion tge highest population is in other five districts. or if we summarize the whole population which iluustrates the the population in all over newyork was increase in 2000 and the lowest was in 1800.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad rise in New York’s population and make relevant comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts. You also report several key figures, including the 1800 total and the 2000 share of the other districts. However, the account only partially selects and explains the main features. The overview is vague and repeated at the end, while the important contrast that Manhattan’s population rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 and then fell to 1,538,096 by 2000 is not clearly described as a trend. The opening also calls the first table a breakdown of five districts, although it gives the citywide total. Focus on the overall growth, Manhattan’s changing share, and the shift towards the other districts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is some attempt to organise the response by introducing the tables and then discussing Manhattan and the other districts. However, the ideas do not progress clearly from an overview to well-grouped details, and the final comparison becomes difficult to follow: “the manhattan lowest in 2000” and “the other five districts has also lowest at 1800” leave the comparison unclear. Linking phrases such as “so if we compare” and “or if we summarize” are used mechanically, and the response is presented as one long paragraph. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and the key comparisons, and connect each figure directly to the trend it illustrates.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “count,” and “district,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or spellings make the meaning less clear. “The highest percentage of population” is repeated rather than varied, while “compate,” “popularion,” and “iluustrates” are noticeable spelling errors. “The population in counts” is also an awkward expression; “population figures” would be more natural. Use precise terms such as “accounted for,” “share,” and “declined” to describe proportions and changes, and check spelling carefully. These improvements would make the comparisons clearer and more appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine information in longer sentences, but the range of structures is limited and these attempts often contain errors that make relationships between ideas hard to follow. For example, “The first table illustrates …, the population in 1800 was …” joins two independent clauses with only a comma. In “This also shows the highest percentage in 2000 that 81%,” the clause structure is incomplete, and “the other five districts has” has a subject–verb agreement error. Articles, punctuation, and sentence boundaries are also inconsistent. Practise writing clear subject–verb sentences, then combine them with accurate clauses using “while” or “whereas.” This will help you express comparisons without losing control of the sentence.

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