Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-08
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 drastic changes in population in New York City.
The city of dreams as shown increase in population from 1800 to 2000 year.The population in 1800 was around 79,216 .In the 19's it increased around 3,437,202. This table depicts the steady increase in population.In year 2000 the population as increase upto 8,009,185.Which is much more than expected .This covers the 5district population.The district includes Manhattan,Brooklyn,Bronx,Queens,Staten Island
As ,we scroll down the second table depicts the Manhattan district population.In 1800 it covers 76% of total population which is around 60,515.In 1900 it was gross around 54% that is1,850,093 and in 2000 it contributes around 19% which is gross around 1,538,096.
Lastly let speak about the remaining district's.The population index in 2000 is 6,471,089 which aligns around 81% .In 1900 was around 46% of total population and 1800 it was 60,515 which is 24%
As we compare three of the table we could spot the changes throughout from 1800 to 2000.Which shows steady increase in the population.
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 summarize the data but fails to provide a clear overview or highlight the most significant trends effectively. While it mentions the total population and the districts, the analysis is fragmented and lacks a logical focus. The data reporting is inconsistent; for instance, the description of the remaining districts is confusing and mathematically inaccurate based on the provided tables. The response lacks a clear comparison between the districts over time, which is a key requirement of the task. The information is presented in a somewhat disjointed manner, making it difficult for the reader to grasp the overall changes in New York City's population distribution.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a clear structure. Paragraphing is inconsistent, and the transition between the total population data and the district-specific data is abrupt. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inappropriate, such as 'As we scroll down' or 'Lastly let speak about'. The referencing is often unclear, particularly when discussing the 'remaining districts', which makes the progression of ideas difficult to follow. The lack of logical sequencing between sentences hinders the overall flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'steady increase' and 'around' are used frequently, indicating a lack of variety. There are several instances of awkward word choice and incorrect collocations, such as 'gross around' and 'the city of dreams as shown increase'. The student struggles to use precise terminology to describe statistical trends, relying on basic descriptors that do not demonstrate the range required for higher bands. Spelling and punctuation errors, such as '19's' and '5district', further detract from the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('as shown increase'), subject-verb agreement errors ('The district includes...'), and missing articles. Punctuation is also problematic, with inconsistent spacing after periods and commas. While the meaning is generally discernible, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the use of more complex structures and limits the clarity of the report.
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