Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-06
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)
Following table illustrates the data about population in New York City from year 1800 to 2000 also population of Manhattan and other four districts in other two tables.
Overall, there are three tables two of which show huge increase but one represents downward trend after a huge increase.
Firstly if we see combine rate of population it has been increased from thousands to millions. In the year 1800 overall population of New York City was 79216 which reached around 3,437,202 in a century after another 100 years it was about triple reaching total of 8,009,185.
Secondly, population of Manhattan was around 60515 which faced 76% increase in 18th century in 1900 it was at all time high 1,850,093 in next hundred years it reduced by 300,000 people reaching 1,538,096.
Thirdly in other districts(Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) population 1800 was 18,701 reaching 1,587,109 in 1900 by 46% increase. Then it faced a all time high upward trend of 81% reaching total population of 6,471,089.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 data, identifying the overall growth and the specific decline in Manhattan. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The student makes several calculation errors, such as stating a '76% increase' for Manhattan between 1800 and 1900, which is mathematically incorrect based on the provided figures. Furthermore, the grouping of the four districts is handled broadly, missing the opportunity to compare the relative growth rates between them. While the main features are selected, the lack of precision in reporting the data and the failure to provide a clear, analytical overview of the comparative changes limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Thirdly'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the introduction where the connection between the three tables is stated in a fragmented way. The flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed, and the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the progression of ideas feel somewhat stilted. The paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to group the data logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. The student uses basic terms like 'huge increase' and 'upward trend' repeatedly. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'combine rate' instead of 'combined population' and 'in 18th century' when referring to the 1800-1900 period. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise collocations related to data description. The errors do not impede communication, but they do restrict the range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('Following table', 'in 18th century'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward phrasing ('in a century after another 100 years'). Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are also problematic, such as 'it has been increased' instead of 'it increased'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors is noticeable and prevents the writing from being considered error-free or highly controlled.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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