Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-31

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 the changes in the total population of New york city between 1800 and 2000, the second and third tables show the percentage of total population change in five different city namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island in the same time.

Overall, It is clear that population in all five districts increased, while it is oberved that the population decreased only in manhattan district from 1800 to 2000.

In 1800, poppulation of all five districts in new york city recorded 79,216 which rose to 3,437,2020 in year 1900. Year 2000 expirenced dramatical increased from 3,437,202 to 8,009,185.

Manthan district accounted for 76% population in year 1800, which decreased to 54 % in year 1900 again it fell to 19% in the next year.

Population in other dustricts recorded 18,701 which accounted very less 24% compared to 1,587,109 in year 1900. In 2000 population increased significantly recorded 6,471,089. This considered the highest population among all the year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts, which are relevant main features. However, the overview is partly inaccurate: it says all five districts increased, although Manhattan’s population fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000. The response also gives the total for 1900 as “3,437,2020,” then later as “3,437,202,” so the key figure is inconsistent. The district discussion focuses mainly on percentages and gives limited comparison of actual populations. To make the summary more complete, report the overall growth accurately and contrast Manhattan’s decline after 1900 with the strong growth in the other districts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for Manhattan and the other districts. This helps the reader identify the main topics. However, progression within the body is sometimes unclear, particularly in the sentence about the total population, where the 1900 figure is repeated inconsistently and the movement to 2000 is awkwardly expressed. Linking phrases such as “again” and “in the next year” do not clearly show that the data points are separated by a century. Some references, including “This considered the highest population,” are also unclear. Use more precise time links and organise each comparison around the three years to create a clearer progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “accounted for,” “decreased,” “rose,” and “increased significantly.” These choices show an attempt to vary the language rather than simply list figures. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, spelling, or collocation errors make parts of the report less clear, such as “dramatical increased,” “recorded very less,” and “This considered the highest population.” District names and “population” are also misspelled in places, including “Manthan,” “dustricts,” and “poppulation.” Aim for accurate, conventional chart language and check spelling carefully; precise vocabulary will make the comparisons easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of sentence forms, including a complex opening sentence and clauses with “while” and “which.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur often enough to affect clarity. For example, “which rose to 3,437,2020 in year 1900” has an incorrect figure and lacks an article before “year”; “Year 2000 expirenced dramatical increased” has faulty sentence structure and verb form; and “This considered the highest population” is missing a finite verb. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, as in “Overall, It” and the lower-case district names. Practise building accurate comparisons with a clear subject and verb, and check articles, tense, and sentence boundaries.

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

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