Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-09
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 show the population increase of city new york from 1800 to 2000 and other table show the changes in population of five district of the city in the same era
overall this is the gradually increase in the population per century but the one district of the city population increase more than other four districts
in 1800 the population of new york city is 79216 and in 1900 its arount [redacted phone] and in 2000 it become [redacted phone] but in other district manhattan it increase 76 percent in 1800 and in 1900 it increase 54 percent and in 2000 it increase 19 percent
on the other side in other four districts the population increasing rate is 24 percent in 1800 and 46 percent in 1900 and 81 percent in 2000 in manhattan it gradually decrease from 1800 to 2000 and in other districts it gradually increase from 1800 to 2000 .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to address the task but fails to accurately report the data. The summary of the total population is acceptable, but the analysis of the districts is confusing and factually incorrect based on the provided tables. For instance, you mention Manhattan increased by '76 percent' in 1800, which does not align with the data provided. The overview is too vague and does not clearly highlight the main trends, such as the shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other four districts over the two centuries. To improve, focus on selecting key data points (e.g., the peak or start/end figures) and describing the trends clearly rather than listing percentages that do not reflect the source material.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks clear paragraphing, which makes it difficult to follow the logical progression of ideas. While there is a basic attempt to organize the information, the lack of punctuation and capitalization makes the text feel like a single, run-on block. Cohesive devices are either missing or used incorrectly, such as the repetitive use of 'in 1800' and 'in 1900'. To reach a higher band, you must use clear paragraph breaks to separate the introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Additionally, use a wider variety of linking words like 'consequently', 'in contrast', or 'meanwhile' to connect your sentences more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'increase', 'decrease', and 'population'. There is little evidence of the range required for higher bands, and some word choices are imprecise, such as 'in the same era' (referring to centuries) or 'the one district'. Spelling errors, such as 'arount' instead of 'around', also detract from the quality of the writing. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', 'accounted for', or 'proportion'. Focus on using synonyms to avoid repeating the same words throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede readability. There is a complete lack of proper punctuation, including missing full stops and capital letters at the start of sentences. The sentence structures are mostly simple and often contain errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the table show' instead of 'the table shows'). There is no attempt at complex sentence structures. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction: ensure every sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a period. Practice using complex sentences with subordinating conjunctions like 'although', 'while', or 'whereas' to describe the trends in the data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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