Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-04

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)

In New York City, the population in 1800 was 79,216. But in 1900 the population was 3,437,202. In 2000 it was 8,009,185. This was in New York, now let's see Manhattan. Well in Manhattan first at 1800 it was 60,515 the total was 76%. In the 1900 it was 1,850,093 the total was 54%. In 2000 the population was 1,538,096 as total is 19%. So now i finished Manhattan, so i'll get into the other districts as like Brooklyn and Bronx And Queens and Staten Island. Well in 1800 the population was 18,701, the total was 24% as percentage. In 1900 it was 1,587,109 total was 46%. But in the 2000 it was 6,471,089, as percentage is 81%. Well i noticed that Manhattan had the highest population in 1800 with 60,515 people, also in 1900 Manhattan is still the highest one with 1,850:093 people. But in 2000 the other distracts was higher than Manhattan! with 6,471,089 residents.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You report the main figures for all three years and accurately identify the key shift: Manhattan led in 1800 and 1900, while the other districts had a much larger population by 2000. However, the response is largely a sequence of figures rather than a clear summary of the main trends. It does not give a concise overview of the city’s overall growth or explain that Manhattan’s share fell substantially as the other districts expanded. The final comparison is useful, but it repeats data already listed and does not develop the significance of the changes. To strengthen the response, select the most important contrasts and summarise them explicitly before giving supporting figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response follows a basic chronological order and moves from the city total to Manhattan and then the other districts, so the reader can locate the information. However, progression is weakened by conversational transitions such as “now let's see Manhattan,” “so i'll get into,” and “Well,” which are not suitable for a formal report and do not create clear analytical links. There is also no paragraphing to distinguish an overview from detailed comparisons, and the final paragraph returns to earlier figures without a clear purpose. Organise the response into an introduction, a brief overview, and grouped details; use linking expressions to show contrast and change rather than narrating each step.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the figures and basic comparisons, using terms such as “population,” “percentage,” “highest,” and “residents.” However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or informal. Phrases such as “the total was 76%” do not clearly express that this is a share of the city population, while “as like Brooklyn” and “Well” sound conversational. There are also spelling errors in “distracts” and the inconsistent use of “Manhattan” and “other districts” could be made more precise. Use formal reporting language such as “accounted for,” “share,” “rose,” and “declined,” and vary the wording to describe the changing distribution.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

Most of the information remains understandable, and you use some simple past-tense clauses to report the figures. However, the sentence structures are limited and several grammatical problems recur. For example, “In the 1900 the population was” uses an unnecessary article, and “as total is 19%” lacks a clear grammatical structure and appropriate verb form. The opening relies on short, repetitive sentences, while the longer sentence beginning “Well i noticed” becomes awkwardly joined and punctuated. Capitalisation is also inconsistent, as in “i” and “And.” Practise complete comparison sentences with accurate articles and clauses, for example, “Manhattan accounted for 76% of the total in 1800, but its share fell to 19% by 2000.”

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