Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-11
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)
these are the data which give information about total population of New York city in between year of 1800 to 2000. this report of population also show changes of population of five districts like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island etc.
The first table clearly shows a yearly calculation of all five districts and it clearly seen that population has increasing year by year. from year 1800 to 2000 the population gap is very huge which also give information about ratio of birth to death in society.
from table no. 2 and 3 we also conclude that in year 1800 the major part of people are lived in Manhattan as compared to other four cities and by the time changes this population were decreased very much we can also conclude that the population chart improves year by year in other four countries. the most populated area by percentage(%) was in year 2000 which combines all four cities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| 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 report the main features accurately. You mention that the population increased, which is correct, but you do not provide specific data points or trends for the individual districts, which is a core requirement of the task. The analysis is vague, using phrases like 'population gap is very huge' rather than citing the actual figures provided in the tables. Furthermore, you incorrectly refer to the districts as 'countries' and 'cities', which misinterprets the data. To improve, you must select key data points (e.g., the population of Manhattan in 1800 vs 2000) and make direct comparisons between the districts to provide a clearer overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into three short paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The transition between the general population trend and the specific district data is abrupt. Cohesive devices are limited and sometimes misused, such as 'by the time changes this population were decreased', which makes the relationship between ideas unclear. The referencing is also problematic; for example, referring to the districts as 'other four cities' creates confusion. To improve, use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'In contrast', 'Furthermore', 'Conversely') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'show', 'give information', and 'changes'. There are also significant errors in word choice, such as referring to the five districts of New York as 'countries' and 'cities'. The phrase 'yearly calculation' is also inaccurate in this context, as the data is provided at intervals rather than annually. To reach a higher band, you should use more precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'surpassed', or 'accounted for', and ensure you use the correct terminology for the entities described in the prompt.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('this report... show', 'population were decreased'), missing articles ('in year 1800'), and awkward sentence structures ('these are the data which give information'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Additionally, try to incorporate more complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, while ensuring that your punctuation is accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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