Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-30
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 illustrate the changes of population in new york city 1800 to 2000 .
the total poplations in five districts in 1800 years the population is 79,216 in 1900 years the population is 3,437,202 and in 2000 the population of new york city is 8,009,185 .
On the other hand one of the district of new york manhatten population in 1800 years is 60,515 according to this population the percentage is 76% the population in 1900 years is 15,38,096 according to this population the percentage is 54% in 2000 the population of manhattan city is 1,538,096 according to this population the percentage is 19% .
According to first table the highest population in 2000 years as campare to 1800 years and 1900 years on the other hand in the table two the highest population in 1900 years as compare to other 1800 years hundread and 1900 years hundread .
Other in four districts Brooklyn , Bronx , Queens, Staten island the populatin in 1800 years is 18,701 according to this population the percentage is 24% and in 1900 years the population is 1,587,109 the percetage of this popultion is 46% and in the 2000 years the population is 6,471,089 the percentage is 81% . the highest population in the 2000 years as compared to others .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You include figures from all three years and cover both Manhattan and the combined other districts, so the response is relevant to the tables. However, the main trends are not clearly summarised: the key contrast is that Manhattan’s population rose to a peak in 1900 and then fell, while the other districts continued to grow and made up 81% of the city by 2000. Your overview instead says the highest population was in 1900 without clearly identifying which group this refers to. There is also a significant data error: Manhattan’s 1900 population is written as “15,38,096,” whereas the table gives 1,850,093; the 2000 figure is correct. Select the main comparisons and report them accurately to make the summary more complete.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response has some organisation: it moves from the city total to Manhattan, then to the other districts, and uses paragraph breaks to separate information. However, the progression is not consistently clear, particularly in the paragraph beginning “According to first table,” where the comparison between years and districts is difficult to follow. Linking phrases such as “On the other hand” are repeated or do not show a clear contrast, and references such as “this population” make it unclear whether you mean the figure or its percentage. Group the information into a clear introduction, overview, and detail paragraphs, and use direct comparisons—for example, contrast Manhattan’s decline after 1900 with the continued growth elsewhere.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant vocabulary for describing tables, including “population,” “percentage,” “highest,” and “compared,” so the reader can identify the subject. However, the range is limited and several words or phrases are repeated, especially “population” and “according to this population.” Spelling errors such as “poplations,” “manhatten,” “percetage,” and “popultion” are noticeable, while phrases such as “in 1800 years” and “the highest population in 2000 years” are not natural ways to describe dates and figures. Use concise, accurate expressions such as “in 1800,” “accounted for,” “rose to,” and “fell to.” This would make the report more precise and easier to read.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt to connect information in longer sentences, for example, “the population in 1800 years is 60,515 according to this population the percentage is 76%,” but these structures are often faulty or run together. The opening also lacks a correctly formed verb phrase: “the first table illustrate” should be “the first table illustrates.” Other recurring problems include missing articles and prepositions, unclear sentence boundaries, and inconsistent tense or number agreement. These errors sometimes make relationships between figures difficult to understand. Build accuracy first with clear simple sentences, then add controlled comparisons using forms such as “Manhattan’s population rose from … to …, before falling to ….” Check punctuation and agreement when editing.
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