Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-05
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 data of the total inhabitants of New York City between 1800 and 2000. The second and third tables gives information about how much proportion changes in five different cities(Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island) during the same period.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that in 1800, the population of city stood at with the list percentage after it increased rapidly with the highest proportion still 2000. Meanwhile, the most important contribution to population growth was Manhattan in 1800 while the other cities were contribute with the highest figure among all.
To begin with, In 1800 , the total population of New city was 79,216 in which Manhattan accounted at 76% while other cities represent with 24%. The population of Manhattan district decreased to 22% in 1900 in contrast the population of other cities minimally increased to 22%. In 200, other districts showed opposite trend to Manhattan .population of Manhattan steady declined to 19% and other cities population climbed to 81%.
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 clearly communicate the main trends. While it identifies the total population growth, the description of the district data is confusing and inaccurate. For instance, the claim that Manhattan's population 'decreased to 22% in 1900' is not clearly supported by the provided tables, and the analysis of the 'other cities' is muddled. The response lacks a clear overview of the significant shift from Manhattan-centric population to the growth of the other four boroughs. Key data points are missing or misinterpreted, leading to a failure to provide a coherent summary of the information presented.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as 'In contrast the population of other cities minimally increased to 22%'. Referencing is frequently unclear, particularly when referring to 'other cities' versus specific districts. The transition between the general population data and the district-specific data is abrupt, and the lack of clarity in the sentences makes it difficult for the reader to follow the intended comparison between the different time periods.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'how much proportion changes' and 'other cities were contribute with the highest figure'. The student struggles with basic collocations and word forms, such as 'steady declined' instead of 'steadily declined'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic topic, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. The repetition of 'cities' to refer to boroughs is also imprecise.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('tables gives', 'other cities were contribute'), incorrect preposition usage ('accounted at'), and tense inconsistencies. The sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors, such as 'In 200, other districts showed opposite trend to Manhattan .population of Manhattan steady declined'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces and incorrect capitalization. The control of grammar is insufficient for a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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