Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-21

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 present changes in the total population of New York city from 1800 to 2000.The first table shows all five districts popluation of New York city. The second and third table show changes in the population of the five districts of the city. These districts are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.

The first table shows changes in the population of all districts of New York city. In 1800 there are 79,216 people who live in these districts. By time In 2000 these numbers go to 8,009,185 people who live in these districts. The second table and third table show changes in the population of Manhattan district. In 1800 76% of the population live in the Manhattan district and the remaining 24% of the population are live in the other districts. In 1900 54% of the population live in the Manhattan district and the remaining 46% of the population are live in other districts. In 2000 19% of the population live in the Manhattan district and the remaining 81% of the population are live in other districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the overall population figures and the changing shares of Manhattan and the other districts, and the percentages you report match the tables. However, the response does not clearly summarise the main trends: it omits the 1900 and 2000 total population figures in its discussion and does not mention that Manhattan’s population rose to a peak in 1900 before falling by 2000. The opening mostly repeats the task description, while the body lists percentages year by year rather than selecting and comparing the most important changes. To strengthen the report, include a concise overview and use key figures to show the sharp growth in the city and the shift in population away from Manhattan toward the other districts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic sequence, moving from an introduction to the total population and then to district shares. Repeating the years and using “In 1800,” “In 1900,” and “In 2000” helps readers follow the data. However, the two paragraphs do not develop a clear overall progression, and the introduction repeats information from the prompt rather than establishing the main comparison. Cohesion is also weakened by repetitive sentence patterns, especially the repeated “the population live” construction, and by unclear references such as “these numbers.” Organise the report into an introduction, a brief overview of the main trends, and focused detail paragraphs; use linking and reference words selectively to connect comparisons rather than listing each year in the same way.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the basic subject and comparisons, with relevant terms such as “total population,” “remaining,” and “districts.” However, the range is limited and several expressions are repetitive or imprecise, including repeated use of “shows changes” and “people who live in these districts.” There are also spelling and form errors, such as “popluation” and “New York city,” which reduce accuracy. Use more precise reporting language to describe numerical change and proportions, for example “rose,” “declined,” “accounted for,” and “share.” Check spelling carefully and avoid repeating the task wording when a concise paraphrase would be clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use mostly simple sentence patterns, with some attempts to express comparisons across years. Meaning is generally recoverable, but frequent errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and punctuation limit accuracy. For example, “In 1800 there are 79,216 people” uses the wrong tense for past data, while “the remaining 24% of the population are live” combines incompatible verb forms. The opening also runs sentences together after “2000” and “city.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and simpler clause structures first: “In 1800, the city had…” and “the remaining 24% lived in the other districts.” Then vary sentence forms while checking each sentence for a complete, correctly punctuated structure.

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

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