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)

Table 1 illustrates the overview of population of NewYork from year 1800 to 2000, Table 2 demonstrates the population and percentage of people living in various districts of Total City population i.e., Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island from the year 1800 to 2000 .

Overall the residents of NewYork city has significantly increased during three years. Manhattan has largest increase in inhabitants in year 1900 while lowest pecentage of total population of city has been seen in year 2000.

In Table 2, number of inhabitants of Manhattan has a substantial urge from 1800 to 2000. In 1800,its population has taken 76% of city and it has reduced to 19% in year 2000.

Table 3 shows the population of numerous districts of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island that has considerable increase from the year 1800 to 2000 . It has highest percentage

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and note the shift in Manhattan’s share, which are relevant features. However, the response is incomplete and only partially reports the tables: it gives no total-population figures, omits the 1900 and 2000 population values for Manhattan, and does not explain that the other four districts rose to 81% of the total by 2000. The claim that Manhattan had its “largest increase” in 1900 is unclear and misleading, since its population later fell. The final sentence stops before completing the comparison. The response also falls short of the required 150 words. To improve, give a clear overview and select key figures to compare the three years accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to district details. This gives the reader some sense of organisation. However, progression is limited: the discussion shifts between tables without developing a complete comparison, and the final sentence, “It has highest percentage,” is unfinished. References such as “it” are unclear because they could refer to a district or its population. The repeated “Table 2” and “Table 3” labels also do not help the reader follow the information, particularly as the task presents the district data together. Use separate, complete paragraphs and connect the key comparisons explicitly, for example by contrasting Manhattan’s declining share with the other districts’ rising share.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “population,” “percentage,” “inhabitants,” and “significantly increased.” These choices make the general topic understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “substantial urge” for a rise and “has largest increase” for a population change. “Total City population” and “numerous districts” are also awkward in this context, while “pecentage” is misspelled. Repetition of “population” and “increase” further limits variety. Practise standard chart language such as “accounted for,” “rose,” “declined,” and “share of the total,” and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including “Overall the residents of NewYork city has significantly increased during three years.” However, errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. For example, “residents … has” has subject–verb disagreement, and “during three years” does not clearly express the period. In “In 1800, its population has taken 76%,” the tense and sentence construction are faulty. Missing or inconsistent articles and punctuation also occur, and the final sentence is incomplete. Aim for accurate past-tense reporting, such as “In 1800, Manhattan accounted for 76% of the city’s population,” and use complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs. Greater control of these basic patterns would make your comparisons 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.