Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-19

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 illustrates the information related to 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.

The first table shows to New York City population was 79216 in 1800. But, in 1900, it population was [redacted phone]. Moreover, in 2000, it population was [redacted phone].

In 1800, Manhattan population was 60,515.But, it total population was 76%.In 1900, it population was 1,850,096.However, it total population was 54%.Moreover, in 2000, it population was 1,538,096. But it total population was 19%.

In 1800, other districts( Brookly,Bronx,Queens, Staten Island) population was 18,701. Moreover, it total population was 24%.In 1900, the number of popultion was 1,587,096. But it total population was 46%.Furthermore, in 2000, it population was 6,471,089.But it total population 81%.

verall, it higest population was 76%. Horever, ti lowest population was 19%

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You report the main population figures for all three years and include both Manhattan and the combined other districts, so the response is relevant to the tables. However, several figures are inaccurate: Manhattan’s 1900 population is given as 1,850,096 rather than 1,850,093, and the other districts’ 1900 figure is 1,587,096 rather than 1,587,109. The overview, “its highest population was 76%” and “lowest … 19%,” confuses population shares with population totals and misses the key pattern: the city grew greatly, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. The response is also 32 words below the 150-word minimum; 38 words copied from the prompt were excluded from the count. Add a clear overview and accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence: it first reports the city total, then Manhattan, then the other districts, and the final sentence attempts an overview. This makes the source of most figures reasonably easy to follow. However, the progression is largely a list of year-by-year facts rather than a comparison of the main trends. Repeated connectors such as “But,” “Moreover,” and “However” are often used mechanically, and the final overview does not clearly connect to the data. Some punctuation also runs sentences together, for example “60,515.But” and “81%.In.” Use separate, clearly organised paragraphs and link related figures to show how the districts’ shares changed over time.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

Vocabulary is sufficient to identify the topic and report basic data, with terms such as “population,” “districts,” and “total population” used repeatedly. However, the range is limited and repetitive, and some word choices or forms make the report less clear, including “it population,” “number of popultion,” and “higest population.” The repeated use of “But” and “Moreover” also does little to express precise comparisons. Aim for accurate, task-specific language such as “accounted for,” “share,” “rose,” and “declined,” rather than repeating “population was.” Check spelling carefully, particularly in key terms and place names, so errors do not distract from the information being reported.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

Most sentences use a simple subject–verb pattern, and the reader can generally identify which year and district each figure refers to. However, the range of sentence structures is very limited, and frequent errors affect accuracy. For example, “The tables illustrates” has subject–verb disagreement, while “it population was” lacks the correct possessive form. The opening sentence also runs into the next one without a space after “2000.” Several clauses are joined with punctuation inappropriately, as in “60,515.But,” and the final sentence contains errors that make its meaning difficult to follow. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then combine comparisons using controlled clauses such as “while” or “whereas.”

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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