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 illustartes the changes involved in the total population of five districts Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island of new york city between 1800 to 2000.

Overall, there is been a sharp rise in the population over the years,whereas the lowest population was recorded in the initial year.

Firstly, on the year 1800 Manhattan contributed 76% of the population whereas, other districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island contributed only 24%.In the year 1900 there has been a rise in population of other districts which was 46% Although, the there has been a decline in Manhattan population and it stood at 54%.

In contrast, In the final year 2000 other districts completly surpassed Manhattan and saw

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, ending abruptly mid-sentence. Because the response is significantly under-length and incomplete, it cannot fully address the task requirements. While you have identified some main features, such as the initial dominance of Manhattan and the subsequent shift in population distribution, the analysis is cut off before the data for the final year can be fully reported or compared. To improve, ensure you complete the summary of all key trends and provide a comprehensive overview that covers the entire data set provided in the tables.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into short paragraphs, but the flow is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the final sentence. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall,' 'Firstly,' and 'In contrast,' but their effectiveness is limited by the lack of a coherent conclusion or a fully developed body. The referencing of the districts is clear, but the mechanical structure of the sentences makes the progression feel somewhat disjointed. To improve, focus on linking your ideas more fluidly and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, completed point before moving to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'contributed,' 'decline,' and 'surpassed' used correctly. However, there are spelling errors such as 'illustartes' and capitalization issues with proper nouns like 'new york city' and 'staten island.' The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise reporting verbs and synonyms for 'rise' or 'decline' to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated control of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors, including 'there is been a sharp rise' (should be 'there has been') and 'on the year 1800' (should be 'in the year 1800'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and incorrect capitalization. While there is an attempt at complex structures, the frequent errors and the incomplete final sentence hinder the overall accuracy. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of prepositions for time and place, and ensure you proofread for basic punctuation and capitalization errors.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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