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)
This table illustrate the changes in population of New York City including its districts between 1800 to 2000 . The tables show the details of population changes of each century in the form of percentages.
The first table is presenting the overall changes of all the five districts where greatest increase was recorded after year 2000 and the smallest increase was recorded between 1800 to 1900. However, the second table showing the record of Manhattan district from the same period with the largest increase with 76% recorded from year 1800 to 1900 and less changes in population was recorded with 19% in this district after 2000. The third table shows the details of remaining four districts which are Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Stalen Island. In these districts, the population increased more rapidly after 2000 with 81% and least population increased from 1800 to 1900.
In summary, the three tables demonstrate the changes in population of last 3 centuries of 5 districts of New York City.
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 attempts to summarise the data but fails to accurately report the main features. The interpretation of the tables is flawed; for example, the student claims the 'greatest increase was recorded after year 2000' for all districts, which contradicts the provided data. Furthermore, the description of the trends is confusing and lacks precision. The response identifies the three tables but does not effectively compare the data across the different time periods or districts. To improve, you must ensure that the data points cited are accurate and that you highlight significant trends or contrasts rather than simply listing percentages without context.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into three short paragraphs, which is a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is not always logical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'The first table', 'The second table', and 'The third table'. The transition 'However' is used incorrectly in the second paragraph, as it does not introduce a contrasting idea that fits the context of the data. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the districts.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'greatest increase', 'smallest increase', and 'less changes' are used repeatedly. There are also inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'record of Manhattan district' and 'last 3 centuries of 5 districts'. The student relies on basic descriptive language and does not demonstrate the ability to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable'. Spelling errors, such as 'Stalen Island' instead of 'Staten Island', also detract from the overall quality.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Subject-verb agreement is inconsistent, for example, 'This table illustrate' (should be 'illustrates') and 'The tables show the details of population changes of each century' (which is grammatically awkward). There are also issues with preposition usage and tense consistency, such as 'between 1800 to 2000' (should be 'from 1800 to 2000' or 'between 1800 and 2000'). While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often faulty, and the majority of sentences contain errors.
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