Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-12
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 rendered table chart illustrates the information about changes in the total population of new York city from 1800 to 2000.
Overall , it is apparent that the population in new York city in the year 2000 was maximum , whereas it was minimum in the year 1800.
Turning to the details , in the year 2000 the population in new York city was maximum which was 8,009,185 followed by in the year 1900 which was 3,437,202. The collective percentage of population in Manhattan in the year 1900 and 2000 was 73. 76% of population in Manhattan was in the year 1800.
Moving further, the percentage of population in other districts in the year 2000(81%) was 35 % more than that of in the year 1900 (46%). 24% of population in other districts was in the year 1800 .The population in other districts was 18,701 , 1,587,109 ,6,471,089 respectively .
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 provide a clear, accurate overview. The selection of data is problematic; for instance, the mention of 'collective percentage' for Manhattan is confusing and does not accurately reflect the provided tables. The report lacks a systematic approach to comparing the five districts, and the data points selected are disjointed. Several figures are presented without sufficient context, making it difficult for the reader to follow the trends. To improve, ensure you clearly identify the main trends (e.g., the overall growth of NYC and the shifting population distribution among districts) and support these with accurate, well-selected data points rather than listing isolated figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into short paragraphs, but the logical progression of ideas is weak. While there is an attempt to use cohesive devices like 'Turning to the details' and 'Moving further', the transitions feel mechanical and do not effectively link the information. The referencing is often unclear, particularly when discussing 'other districts', which makes the relationship between the data and the text difficult to follow. The overall structure lacks a cohesive flow, and the information is presented in a somewhat fragmented manner, which hinders the reader's ability to grasp the main features of the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases such as 'maximum' and 'minimum' are used repeatedly to describe population figures, which is somewhat unnatural in this context. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'rendered table chart' and 'collective percentage of population', which do not accurately describe the data provided. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher band scores. Expanding your repertoire of reporting verbs and descriptive adjectives related to trends would significantly enhance your writing.
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 preposition usage ('followed by in the year 1900'), awkward phrasing ('that of in the year 1900'), and inconsistent punctuation. Capitalization errors are also present, such as 'new York city'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader and indicate a lack of control over complex sentence structures. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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