Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-16

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 chart illutrates the population of New York contribute the percentage at global level.The second and third tables shows the change in the poplulation of five different districts of the city ( in Manhattan,Brooklyn ,Bronx,Queens,Staten Island ) from 1800 to 2000.

Overall,the New York city had highest number of population in entire period of time ,whereas Manhatten hold second position for population .In contrast other four districts had least contribution.

In 1800, the population of New yorks all five contributes around 79,216.For Manhatten it has 60,515 peoples with 76% to New york , other five disricts had 18,701 population that has 24% of total population. In 1900 . the population of entire New york is about 34,437,202, Manhatten and other districts had 1,850,093 and 1,587,109 respectively with 54% and 46%.

later 2000 ,the population shows drastic change for Brooklyn ,Broonx ,Queens, Staten island had rise to 6,471,089 and contributes 81% and for Manhatten had marginal declined to 1,538,089,with 19%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You include the main time points and report several relevant figures, including Manhattan’s 76% share in 1800 and the other districts’ 81% share in 2000. However, the overview is not accurate: Manhattan did not hold the second position throughout, and the other districts were not consistently the smallest contributors. The key pattern is that the city’s total population rose sharply, while Manhattan’s share fell and the combined share of the other districts increased. There is also a major numerical error: the 1900 city total is 3,437,202, not 34,437,202. The final Manhattan population is given as 1,538,089 rather than 1,538,096. Select and summarise the main trends more clearly, and check figures against the tables.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs covering the three dates. This gives the reader a general route through the information. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and the overview does not prepare the reader for the actual comparisons. Linking is limited and occasionally awkward, as in “In 1900 .” and “later 2000,” while the final paragraph combines the other districts’ rise and Manhattan’s decline in a sentence that is difficult to follow. Use clearer time-based transitions and organise each comparison consistently—for example, state the city total first, then compare Manhattan with the combined other districts. This would make the relationships between figures easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt some task-relevant vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “drastic change,” and “declined,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the meaning unclear, such as “contribute the percentage at global level,” “hold second position for population,” and “least contribution.” Spelling errors—including “illutrates,” “poplulation,” “Manhatten,” and “disricts”—also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, conventional language for describing tables: use terms such as “accounted for,” “share of the city’s population,” and “increased/decreased.” Check spelling carefully and avoid describing the figures as global percentages, since they refer to New York City’s total.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use some simple sentences and attempt longer comparisons, but grammatical control is inconsistent, and complex sentences are often faulty. For example, “The second and third tables shows” has subject–verb disagreement, while “For Manhatten it has 60,515 peoples” has an unclear subject and awkward sentence structure. Missing or misplaced articles and punctuation also appear in phrases such as “In 1900 . the population” and “later 2000.” These errors sometimes make relationships between the figures difficult to understand. Practise accurate sentence patterns such as “In 1800, Manhattan had a population of 60,515, accounting for 76% of the total.” Then use the same structure for each year, checking agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries.

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