Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-13

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 tables given below shows the percentage of population change in the 5 districts of New York City in year 1800,1900 and 2000.

First of all in year 1800 the total population of the New York City is 79,216 from this population 76% population is in Manhattan and remaining 24% population lived in other 4 districts of the New York City in year 1800 the population is high in Manhattan as compared with other 4 districts.

Secondly,in year 1900 the total population of New York City is 3,437,202 Manhattan consist 54%of the total population and other 4 district are 46% of fhe total population in year 1900 the population share of the Manhattan is also increase as compared with the other 4 districts.

Thirdly, in year 2000 the total population is 8,009,185 in New York city here the percentage of population in other 4 districts is higher which is 81% and the share of Manhattan is only 19% of the total population in New York City thebshare of population is decreased in year 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You report the overall population figures for all three years and identify the changing shares of Manhattan and the other districts, so the response includes relevant information from both tables. However, the account is only partly accurate: you say Manhattan’s share “also increase” in 1900, although it fell from 76% to 54%; the other districts’ share rose. The key overall pattern—that the city’s population grew substantially while Manhattan’s proportion declined and the other districts’ proportion increased—is not clearly summarised as an overview. You also omit the actual district population figures, including Manhattan’s fall between 1900 and 2000. State the main trends accurately, then support them with selected figures and comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a chronological order, moving from 1800 to 1900 and then 2000, and the sequence markers “First of all,” “Secondly,” and “Thirdly” help readers follow the years. However, the writing reads as a series of similar statements rather than a clearly developed summary. There is no distinct overview, and several ideas are joined into long sentences without clear punctuation, making relationships between figures harder to follow. Repetition of “in year” and “population” also makes the progression mechanical. Organise the response into an introduction, an overview of the main trends, and one or two paragraphs comparing the data; use linking phrases to show contrast, such as “whereas” or “by contrast.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “total population,” “percentage,” “share,” and “districts,” and the reader can generally understand the comparisons you intend. However, the range is limited and some word choices or combinations are inaccurate, such as “percentage of population change” for the information shown, “Manhattan consist 54%,” and “the population is high.” Spelling and typing slips, including “fhe” and “thebshare,” also reduce clarity. Aim for precise reporting language and vary repeated terms: describe a proportion as “accounted for” or “represented,” and use “increased” or “declined” for changes over time. Check spelling and collocations carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response mainly uses simple statements and attempts to connect several ideas in longer sentences, but those longer structures are often faulty. Errors include subject–verb agreement in “The tables … shows” and “Manhattan consist,” missing or misplaced articles in phrases such as “in year 1800,” and inconsistent sentence boundaries where several clauses run together. The sentence about 1900 also makes the comparison difficult to interpret because the clauses are not clearly separated. These recurring errors sometimes make the intended meaning less clear, even though the years and most figures remain understandable. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and agreement, and use shorter, correctly punctuated sentences before attempting more complex comparisons.

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