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 first table illustrates the change in the total population of New York City during a period of 200 years, from 1800 to 2000. On the other hand, the other two tables show the changes in the population percentages of different five districts of the city(Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, the total population in New York had experienced a significant growth during that period. Regarding certain districts proportions, Manhattan constituted the highest percentage of total population in 1800, but also the city share dropped while the total population still climbing. Other four districts showed an increase in their share as well as the total population number.
Manhattan was representing the highest share in1800, at 76%. The percentage was declining, reached 19% in 2000, while the actual population number kept rising.
Other districts demonstrated a remarkable increase in their percentages and their population number, arising from 24% in 1800 to 81% in 2000.
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 main broad trends: New York’s total population grew substantially, Manhattan’s share fell, and the other districts’ share rose. The percentages you report for 1800 and 2000 are accurate. However, the account is incomplete and underdeveloped: it omits the 1900 figures and gives no actual population totals for the districts, despite the tables showing that Manhattan’s population fell from 1,850,093 to 1,538,096 after 1900. The claim that its population “kept rising” is therefore inaccurate. The response also contains only 136 words, below the 150-word minimum. Include the key middle-year comparison, correct the Manhattan trend, and develop the overview with the total population figures to address the task more fully.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to district details. However, progression is limited because the final two paragraphs repeat the same percentage trends rather than developing a clear comparison across all three years. Linking phrases such as “On the other hand” and “Regarding” are used, but the contrast signalled by “On the other hand” is not especially clear, and the relationship between population totals and percentages is sometimes difficult to follow. The district discussion would be easier to track if Manhattan and the other districts were compared in parallel, with 1800, 1900 and 2000 presented in sequence. Use references such as “by 1900” and “in contrast” to make the timeline and comparisons explicit.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “total population,” “percentage,” “share,” and “significant growth,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word combinations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “population percentages of different five districts,” “the city share dropped,” and “arising from 24%.” “Other four districts” is also not idiomatic. These choices make parts of the report less clear and reduce precision. Aim for standard data-reporting collocations, for example “the proportions of the five districts,” “Manhattan’s share of the city’s population declined,” and “the combined share of the other districts rose.” Vary verbs such as “accounted for,” “increased,” and “fell” rather than repeating “showed” or “demonstrated.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “but” and a time clause beginning “while.” However, errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships unclear. For example, “Manhattan constituted the highest percentage … but also the city share dropped” has an unclear clause structure, while “Manhattan was representing” uses an unsuitable progressive form. There are also article, number and punctuation problems in “different five districts,” “Other four districts,” and “city(Manhattan.” Tense control is inconsistent: “had experienced” is unnecessary for a period ending in 2000, while “kept rising” misstates the data as well as the trend. Practise accurate past-simple comparisons and check sentence boundaries, articles and plural forms.
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