Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 changes in the total population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. The second and third tables demonstrate changes in the population of the five different districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) through out the same period.

Overall, New York city was the highest population all of them, while other districts represented the second largest category. Moreover, Manhattan showed the lowest population proportion than others.

New York city with all five districts remained the biggest percentage all others. In 1800, New York city had 79,216 population and it increased over the period and became 8,009,185 in 2000, while Manhattan showed lowest population proportion. In 1800, it had 60,515 with 76% and went up gradually and figure's showed 1,538,096 but its percentage of total population decreased with 19%.

Other districts like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island was the second most famous category. In 1800, it had 18,701 population with 24% increased sharply over the time, and represented 6,471,089 population with 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall growth in New York City’s population and the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts. The figures you give for 1800 and 2000 are accurate, including Manhattan’s fall from 76% to 19% and the other districts’ rise from 24% to 81%. However, the account is only partial: it omits the 1900 figures, when the city reached 3,437,202 and Manhattan still had the largest share at 54%. The overview is also unclear when it says New York City was “the highest population all of them,” since the city total is not a category comparable with its districts. Report the three stages more clearly and distinguish population totals from percentages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for the city and district data, so there is some basic organisation. However, progression is limited because the 1900 stage is skipped and the final paragraph repeats information already introduced in the overview. Connections such as “while” and “Moreover” are used, but some do not express a clear relationship: “while other districts represented the second largest category” is difficult to interpret. References are also confusing, particularly “it” in the discussion of Manhattan and “it” for the other districts. Organise the body chronologically, compare Manhattan with the combined other districts at each date, and use explicit labels rather than unclear pronouns.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “increased,” and “decreased,” and the reader can generally identify the intended comparisons. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing statistical data. For example, “the highest population all of them” and “second most famous category” do not convey the intended meaning; “famous” is especially unsuitable for population figures. “Went up gradually” also overstates the pattern because only three dates are shown, and Manhattan’s population did not rise throughout the period. Use precise terms such as “accounted for,” “share,” “combined population,” and “rose sharply,” while avoiding claims about gradual change that the data cannot establish.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences using clauses joined by “while” and “and,” as well as a comparative structure such as “lower … than.” However, these attempts are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. For example, “New York city was the highest population all of them” lacks a grammatical comparison, while “Other districts … was” has a subject–verb agreement error. The sentence beginning “In 1800, it had 60,515” also shifts between past-tense verbs and the incomplete phrase “figure’s showed.” Work on complete sentence patterns, agreement with plural subjects, and consistent past-tense reporting. Shorter, accurately controlled sentences would make the data easier to understand.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.