Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-27

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 table illustrated changes in the total population of New York city from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables compares changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

Overall,the population of New York other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) was highest in 2000, as compares to Manhattan that is 19%.

In 2000, New York other districts had the highest number of population 6,471,089 the total percentage is 81% and secondly, Manhattan had highest population 76% in 1800.

In contrast, Manhattan in 1900, was the most populous as compares to New York other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island).By 1900, the population of city Manhattan was has risen significantly to 54%, while other districts population had low to 46%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the broad contrast between Manhattan and the other four districts, and you include relevant figures such as 6,471,089 and 81% in 2000. However, the response is very incomplete: it does not report the overall city population figures or clearly describe the main change across all three years. The statement that Manhattan had the “highest population 76% in 1800” confuses a percentage with a population figure, and the 1900 comparison is expressed unclearly. The response also contains only 95 words, below the required 150, so several key features are left undeveloped. Add a clear overview and accurately compare the population totals and shares in 1800, 1900 and 2000.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, beginning with an introduction, followed by an overview and comparisons. The use of “Overall” and “In contrast” signals relationships between ideas. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the comparisons move between years and measures without a clear sequence. For example, the sentence about 2000 is followed by a reference to Manhattan in 1800, then the final paragraph returns to 1900. Some links are also unclear, particularly “as compares to Manhattan that is 19%.” Organise the report chronologically or by district, and give each paragraph a distinct purpose. Clearer referencing would help readers understand which figures are populations and which are percentages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing tables, including “population,” “percentage,” “most populous,” and “risen significantly.” These choices show awareness of the task’s subject and allow the main comparison to be understood. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, such as “highest number of population” and “other districts population had low to 46%.” The repeated phrase “as compares to” is also an inaccurate collocation. Use more precise reporting language and distinguish population totals from population shares. For example, describe a district as accounting for a particular percentage, rather than saying it “had” that percentage as a population.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response includes simple statements and attempts some more complex comparisons, but the range of sentence structures is limited and errors occur frequently. In the opening, “The second and third tables compares” has a subject–verb agreement error. The phrase “the population of city Manhattan was has risen” combines incompatible verb forms, while “By 1900” is followed by a sentence with unclear structure. Punctuation and spacing also need attention, as in “Overall,the” and “districts).By.” These problems sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to interpret. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build comparisons with a clear subject and verb, such as “Manhattan’s population rose, while the other districts’ share increased.”

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

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