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)
The table illustrate changes in the overall population of New York City from 1800 and 2000. Two tables that are left shows changes in the population of five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, New York City, In year 1800 to 2000 population increase drastically. Only Manhattan district population does rose much as compared to total of other four districts.
New York City shows in year 1800 population was 79,216 in all five districts in 1900 it rose like three times more between previous century. In 2000 the population peaked at 8,009,185.
In year 1800 population was 60,515 of Manhattan district. In next century it rose up to 54% in numbers 1,850,093 then in year 2000 it was recorded that the population did not increase much as compared to previous two centuries.
The Next table shows, other districts. Year 1800 population was 18,701 of all districts like 24% of total population. The next century population raised 46% and peaked 81% of total population.
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 features of the data, such as the overall population growth and the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The student struggles to accurately interpret the provided figures, particularly in the final paragraph where the percentages mentioned do not clearly align with the data provided in the tables. Furthermore, the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is slightly confusing. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that the data points selected are accurate and that the comparisons are clearly explained rather than just listing numbers.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'The Next table shows'). There is a lack of variety in linking words, and some sentences feel disconnected from the previous ones. Improving the use of transition signals and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly improve the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'population did not increase much' and 'population raised 46%'. The student relies on basic verbs like 'shows' and 'rose'. To improve, you should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'surged', 'fluctuated', or 'accounted for', and ensure that collocations are used correctly to convey the intended meaning more professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The table illustrate', 'district population does rose') and incorrect preposition usage ('In year 1800 to 2000'). While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are often faulty. The punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is often repetitive. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy, particularly verb tenses and subject-verb agreement, is essential for achieving a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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