Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-17
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 given table chart depicts that population of New York City whole and other charts illustrates the population in other parts of New York in year 1800, 1900 and 2000 .
New York City has five different parts , Manhattan ,Brooklyn ,
Bronx ,Queens , Staten Island . First table chart depicts the total number of population of New York City. However two other table contain the information of Manhattan population and rest of other districts population. Year 1800 to 2000 , New York City's population rapidly increased .
As per given charts , It is clearly shows that Manhattan had huge population compare to other districts like Brooklyn , Bronx , Queens and Staten Island . In 1800, Manhattan population was 60,515 , as percentage of total population 76%. While In 1900 , population was increased but compare to proportion, It was decreased , and population were 1,538,096.
Other districts population was less compare to Manhattan in 1800 . Other parts of New York City population were 1,587,109 in 1900 ,which similar to Manhattan population in 2000. Other parts population were steadily increasing in those years , Where Manhattan population decreased in 2000 than 1900.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the broad trend that New York City’s population grew substantially and note the contrasting movement in Manhattan and the other districts. You also include relevant figures, such as Manhattan’s 60,515 residents in 1800 and the other districts’ 1,587,109 in 1900. However, a key figure is misreported: Manhattan had 1,850,093 residents in 1900, not 1,538,096; 1,538,096 is its 2000 population. The response also lacks a clear overview of the most important comparisons, especially the city’s rise from 79,216 to over 8 million and the shift in population share from Manhattan (76% to 19%) to the other districts (24% to 81%). Develop these features accurately and cover all three years more clearly.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has some paragraphing and a generally understandable sequence: it introduces the tables, then discusses Manhattan and the other districts. Basic links such as “However,” “While,” and “Where” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, the progression is not consistently clear, and the opening repeats what each table contains rather than establishing the main comparisons. Some references are vague, as in “other parts” and “those years,” while the final paragraph combines several comparisons without a clear order. The sentence beginning “While In 1900” also leaves the relationship between the population and its proportion unclear. Organise the report around an overview followed by chronological or district-based comparisons, and use linking phrases to show precise contrasts.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “districts,” “increased,” and “decreased,” so the reader can follow the general subject. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repeated or do not collocate naturally, such as “table chart,” “huge population compare to,” and “population were steadily increasing.” These choices sometimes make the intended comparison less precise. Use standard data-reporting language and vary verbs for change, while choosing terms that distinguish absolute population from percentage share. For example, describe a population as “larger than” another, and say that a district’s share “fell” or “declined.” The vocabulary suggestions below offer practical replacements.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast between Manhattan and the other districts. However, errors occur frequently in sentence structure, agreement, articles, and punctuation, and they sometimes make relationships difficult to interpret. Examples include “It is clearly shows,” “Manhattan had huge population,” and “population were 1,587,109.” The sentence “While In 1900, population was increased but compare to proportion” is also grammatically incomplete and unclear. Capitalisation and spacing around commas are inconsistent. Practise forming complete comparison sentences with accurate subjects and verbs, such as “Manhattan’s population rose by 1900, although its share of the city total fell.” More reliable sentence patterns will help you express the data clearly.
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