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 given tables illustrate the population of New York City and the percentage distribution across its of the city in 1800 to 2000.
Overall, it is clear that the number of residents recorded in 2000, whereas the lowest population noticeable in 1800. In addition, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island exceeded the largest population compare to Manhattan.
The highest number of all five districts population recorded in 2000, with 8,009,185, while in 1900 it decreased to 3,437,202 residents. Moreover, the lowest population noticeable during in year 1800, with 79,216 people.
In 1800, 60,515 population represented with 76%. Furthermore, 54 percentage of the population soared 1,850,093 in 19,000, while the proportion fell to 19% with 1,538,096 population. Other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) population stood at 18,701, with 24% in 1800. The population of the other districts rose from 46% with 1,587,109 residents in 1900 to 81% 6,471,089 groups in 2000.
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 attempts to summarize the data but fails to clearly identify the main trends. The overview is confusing, stating that the lowest population was 'noticeable in 1800' without clearly contrasting it with the growth. Furthermore, the data reporting is inaccurate; for example, the text claims the population in 1900 was 3,437,202, which does not align with the provided table. The comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is also poorly articulated. To improve, you must ensure that the figures cited are accurate and that the 'main features' are highlighted clearly rather than just listing raw numbers. The response lacks a clear, analytical focus on the significant shifts over the two-century period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as 'Moreover, the lowest population noticeable during in year 1800'. The referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the total population and the specific district percentages. While there is an attempt to use transition words like 'In addition' and 'Furthermore', they do not always connect ideas logically. The overall structure is fragmented, and the relationship between the tables is not clearly established, which hinders the flow of information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and often repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choices and inaccuracies, such as 'soared 1,850,093 in 19,000' (which is a typo for 1900) and '6,471,089 groups'. The phrase 'percentage of the population soared' is used incorrectly to describe a raw number. You rely on basic descriptors and struggle to use precise terminology to describe trends (e.g., 'rose', 'fell', 'exceeded'). To achieve a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe data trends accurately and avoid errors that impede the clarity of your report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with sentence structure, such as 'the number of residents recorded in 2000, whereas the lowest population noticeable in 1800', which is a sentence fragment. Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are also problematic, for example, 'during in year 1800' and 'across its of the city'. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are often faulty. You should focus on mastering basic sentence construction before attempting more complex forms to ensure that your meaning is conveyed accurately and clearly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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