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 given first table shows the total population of the New York City, whereas the other two tables presents the specific changes in the population of the five districts of the city.

Overall population of the city rises significantly each centuary across all five districts. Manhattan's people rate declined over the period of time in terms of percentage as compare to the other districts.

The Manhattan's population was 60515 in the year of 1800, which was significantly raised to [redacted phone] by the year 1900 and then drops to [redacted phone] by 2000. The population of othe districts rises drmatically from 18701 to [redacted phone], then [redacted phone].

In comparison between Mahattan and other cities, the population of manhattan follows the downward trend i-e 76% in 1800, 54% in 1900 and 19% in 2000. In contrast the other districts follows the upward trend i-e 24% in 1900, 46% in 1900 and 81% in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall pattern: the city grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. You also include relevant figures for all three years. However, the response is under the required length: it contains 139 words, 11 short of the 150-word minimum, and this limits how fully you can report and compare the data. Some figures are inaccurate: the other districts had 1,587,109 people in 1900, not 1,587,106, and their share was 24% in 1800, not 1900. The total population trend is also described imprecisely as rising each century, although the tables show only three points. Add a clearer comparison of the total figures and check each value against the table.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to details, and expressions such as “Overall” and “In contrast” help signal relationships. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph repeats the percentage comparison already stated in the overview rather than developing a new comparison. Some linking is inaccurate or awkward: “In comparison between Manhattan and other cities” does not clearly describe the comparison, and “i-e” is not an effective formal connector. The sequence of figures in the last paragraph is also confusing because the dates are repeated incorrectly. Group the information more clearly—for example, describe population totals first, then compare the changing shares—and use precise transitions between years and districts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “population,” “percentage,” “declined,” “rises,” and “upward trend,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which makes parts of the report less clear. For example, “Manhattan’s people rate” is not a natural way to describe its share of the city population, and “other cities” incorrectly refers to the other districts. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “centuary,” “drmatically,” and “Mahattan.” Aim for precise table-reporting language such as “population share,” “the remaining districts,” and “increased,” and proofread spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “whereas” and a relative clause in “which was significantly raised.” However, grammatical errors occur frequently and sometimes make the relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Examples include subject–verb agreement in “the other two tables presents” and “the other districts follows,” as well as article and possessive problems in “the New York City” and “The Manhattan’s population.” Tense and verb forms are also inconsistent in “rises,” “was … raised,” and “then drops.” Use a consistent past tense for the historical figures, check singular and plural subjects, and simplify sentence patterns when needed so that each comparison is grammatically clear.

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