Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-02
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 given data table illustrates the information that shows change in the total population of New York city from 1800 to 2000. The other two tables show changes in the population of the five districts of that city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, States Island) over the same period of time.
In the first table, the total population of New York city in all five districts (Manhattan, Brookyln, Bronx, Queens, States Island) from 1800 to 2000 are 79, 216 in 1800, the other figure is 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 2000 that is the highest population count among all other years.
On the other hand, the Manhattan city has count the highest population rather then other 4 districts. Furthermore, the Manhattan district has counted the total population in 1800 are 60,515 that is 76% as compared to other districts that is only 18,701 and it is only 24% of total popuation that is much less then Manhattan. The total population of Manhattan in 1900 and 2000 are 54% and 19%, and if we compared to other four districts that is 46% in 1900 and 81% in 2000 that is much higher then Manhattan city.
Overall, the Manhattan city has relatively count highest population among all other four districts in New York from 1800 to 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You identify the overall population growth and include relevant figures for 1800, 1900 and 2000, as well as the changing shares of Manhattan and the other districts. However, the account is only partially successful because the overview gives an inaccurate main trend: Manhattan did not have the highest population throughout the period. Its population rose from 60,515 to 1,850,093 by 1900, then fell to 1,538,096 in 2000, while the other districts together grew substantially. The statement that Manhattan had the highest population “from 1800 to 2000” therefore conflicts with the data. The response also reports percentages without the corresponding 1900 and 2000 population figures, limiting the comparison. A clearer overview should highlight the shift in population share away from Manhattan.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, a paragraph on the citywide total, a comparison of Manhattan with the other districts, and a concluding overview. This gives the reader some organisation, and phrases such as “Furthermore” and “On the other hand” attempt to connect ideas. However, progression is limited because the second paragraph mainly lists totals, while the final paragraph repeats the claim that Manhattan had the highest population rather than summarising the overall change accurately. Some linking is also awkward or unclear, particularly “and if we compared to other four districts.” Group the information by time period or by contrasting trends, and use clear references such as “the combined population of the other districts” to make comparisons easier to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “total population,” “district,” “percentage,” and “compared,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are noticeably inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning difficult to interpret. For example, “the Manhattan city has count the highest population” is not a natural way to describe the figures, and “other figure” is vague when referring to the 1900 total. There are also spelling errors such as “Brookyln,” “States Island,” and “popuation.” Use precise terms such as “population,” “accounted for,” “share,” and “combined total,” and check the spelling of place names. Avoid repeating “much higher” and “total population” when more exact comparisons are available.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts some longer sentences, including comparisons joined with “that” and “if,” but the range of structures is limited and these attempts are often faulty. Errors in verb forms and agreement occur in phrases such as “the Manhattan city has count” and “the total population … are 60,515.” The sentence beginning “Furthermore” also has an unclear structure: “has counted the total population in 1800 are 60,515.” Articles and sentence construction are inconsistent, and the final sentence repeats the same grammatical problem with “has relatively count.” These errors can make the reader work to understand the comparisons. Practise forming accurate past-tense reporting sentences, for example, “Manhattan’s population stood at 60,515 in 1800,” and use a clear subject and verb in each comparison.
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