Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-03
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 below illustrates the changes in the total population of New York city from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show changes in the population of five district of the cities of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx , Queens, Staten Island over the same period.
In the city of New York of all the five districts over the period , in the year of 1800 the population was 79,216, this changes drastically to 3,437,202. in 1900, also, 8,009,185 in 2000.
In the second table, the city of Manhattan changes have been listed and in the year of 1800 the population was 60,515 which has 76% of the total population. After 10 years, in 1900 the population has increased to 1,850,093 and has 54% of population. Then in 2000 1,538,096 of 19%.
Also in the other four district the population was 18,701 in 1800 of 24% of the total population, in the next decade the population has be shown a great increase of 1,587,109 of 46% in 1900 and also the population have been climbed to 6,471,089 having 81% of the total population in the cities of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.
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
The response covers the main trends in the population data, but the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview. While you have identified key figures, the reporting is inconsistent; for example, you mention the total population in 1800 and 2000, but the 1900 figure is presented in a way that is slightly confusing. The comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is attempted, but the lack of a clear summary paragraph makes it difficult to grasp the overall shift in population distribution over the two centuries. To improve, ensure you highlight the most significant trends—such as the massive growth in the outer districts compared to the relative decline in Manhattan's percentage share—rather than just listing numbers.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive (e.g., 'in the year of', 'in the city of'). The transition between the first table and the second/third tables is abrupt. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the 'other four districts', which makes the progression of ideas feel mechanical. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data comparison.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There is a reliance on basic verbs like 'changes', 'increased', and 'climbed'. Some phrasing is awkward, such as 'the population has be shown a great increase' and 'the population have been climbed'. There are also minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'five district' (should be plural 'districts') and 'the city of Manhattan changes'. To improve, incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'surged', 'accounted for', 'proportion', and 'dramatically'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and subject-verb agreement, such as 'the population has be shown' and 'the population have been climbed'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas and periods. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors interfere with the flow of the writing. To improve, focus on mastering basic tense consistency and proofreading for subject-verb agreement and punctuation errors.
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