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 first given table represents how the total population between the years 1800 and 2000 experiences alteration in the New York City. The second and third table illustrates variation in five district's population namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island in the same period of time.
Overall, at the beginning of the period the population of New York City was too much less and experienced great increase at the end of the period.
By having a look at the population of New York City districtwise, Manhattan population was 60,515 in the year 1800, 76 in percentage of total population but it went through greatest swap and decreased about 52% in 2000.
On the other hand, population of other 4 districts
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the ability to fully address the task. The summary is incomplete, as the student stops mid-sentence while discussing the second table. While the introduction identifies the topic, the overview is overly simplistic and lacks the necessary detail to highlight key trends across the two-century period. Because the response is unfinished, it fails to report the main features or make the required comparisons between the districts effectively. To improve, ensure you complete the analysis of all data provided and provide a more comprehensive overview of the significant shifts in population distribution.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response shows a basic attempt at paragraphing, with an introduction, an overview, and the start of a body paragraph. However, the abrupt ending makes it impossible to judge the overall logical progression. Cohesive devices are limited and somewhat mechanical, such as 'On the other hand,' which is used prematurely before the thought is developed. The lack of completion prevents the text from achieving a coherent structure. To improve, focus on planning your response to ensure all data points are covered and use a wider range of linking words to connect your observations logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the precision required for an academic report. Phrases like 'too much less' are grammatically incorrect and unnatural in this context. The term 'greatest swap' is an inaccurate choice of word to describe a demographic shift. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. To improve, focus on using precise academic vocabulary such as 'significant decline,' 'substantial growth,' or 'proportionate change' rather than informal or vague phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For example, 'experiences alteration in the New York City' is awkward, and 'second and third table illustrates' contains a subject-verb agreement error. The sentence structure is repetitive and lacks the variety of complex forms expected at higher bands. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors is noticeable. To improve, practice subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, and aim to incorporate more complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions to combine related ideas.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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