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 first figure shows the table graph of New York city and second, third table shows the changes in the population of the city over same period of time.
Overall, we can say that the highest population in New York is in year 2000. Similarly, population of Manhattan city is high in year 1900 and in other districts population is high in 2000. This table shows the population change over similar period of time.
The primary increase of population in New York is high in year 2000 which is about 8,009,185. Subsequently, if we compare the populations of Manhattan in 2000 year is 19% which is about 1,538,096 in population. Next to that, Other districts population in 2000 year is 6,471,089 which is exactly 81%.
Furthermore, Populations in New York city in 1900 year is around 3,437,202. Similarly, in 1900 the population is around 54% which is about 1,850,093 and other districts population is 46%. Moreover, the population of New York city in 1800 is 79,216 and population in Manhattan in year 1800 is 76% which shows about 60,515. Moving Forward, the population of other districts in 1800 year is 24% which is much less than other populations which is around 18,701.
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 summarise the data but fails to clearly highlight the main trends or make meaningful comparisons. The overview is weak, merely stating that population is highest in 2000 without noting the significant growth trajectory or the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. The data reporting is often repetitive and lacks analytical depth. For instance, the text lists figures for 2000, 1900, and 1800 in a disjointed manner rather than synthesising the information to show the overall change over the two centuries. To improve, you should group data by trends (e.g., total growth vs. district shifts) rather than listing individual years.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by repetitive phrasing and a lack of effective cohesive devices. Transitions like 'Next to that' and 'Moving Forward' feel mechanical and do not always link ideas logically. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing 'other districts' without explicitly naming them or explaining their relationship to the total. While there is an attempt to use paragraphs, the internal flow within these paragraphs is disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of data across the different time periods.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'population is high' and 'population of... is' are used repeatedly, which restricts the range. There are also inaccuracies in word choice, such as referring to the tables as a 'table graph' and calling Manhattan a 'Manhattan city', which is incorrect. While the numbers are reported, the lack of varied terminology to describe trends (e.g., 'surged', 'declined', 'accounted for', 'proportion') prevents the response from reaching a higher band. You should focus on using more precise nouns and verbs to describe statistical changes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include incorrect article usage ('in year 2000' instead of 'in the year 2000'), subject-verb agreement errors ('second, third table shows'), and awkward phrasing ('the primary increase of population... is high'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. To improve, focus on consistent use of articles, correct preposition usage with dates, and ensuring that your sentence structures are grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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