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 given tables represent how the population of different districts of New York City like Manhattan and other 4 districs experiences fluctuations in the years 1800, 1900 and 2000.
Overall, in the beginning the total population of New York City was too much less as compared to the end of the period.
In the year 1800 the population of all five districs was about 79,216 but it increased gradually with the passage of time from 3,437,202 to 8,009,185 in the years 1900 and 2000 respectively.
oN THE the population of district Manhattan is concerned, first it increased from 60,515 to 1,850,093 in the years 1800 and 2000 respectively and then it decreased to 1,538,093 in the year 2000. Moreover, other districts also went through many changes in population. It was 24% of total population in the year 1800 and it invreased gradually as the time moevd futher
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified the general trend of population growth, the analysis is incomplete. You have not provided a comprehensive comparison of the five districts, and the data interpretation for Manhattan is factually confusing, stating it increased to 1.8 million and then decreased to 1.5 million in 2000, which does not align with the provided tables. To improve, ensure you cover all data points accurately and provide a more detailed breakdown of the trends across all districts to fully satisfy the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into short paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'in the year'. The transition between the general overview and the specific data is abrupt. Furthermore, the paragraphing is inconsistent, and the final sentence is incomplete and lacks a clear connection to the previous points. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure each paragraph has a clear, unified focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'too much less' and 'went through many changes' are imprecise and lack the academic tone required for Task 1. There are also several spelling errors, such as 'districs', 'invreased', and 'moevd', as well as formatting issues like 'oN THE'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'significant growth', 'fluctuated', or 'accounted for', and ensure you proofread your work to eliminate basic spelling and typographical errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are some attempts at complex sentences, they are often marred by grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the population of district Manhattan is concerned' and 'as the time moevd futher'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the capitalization error at the start of the final paragraph. To improve, focus on mastering the use of complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or participial phrases, and pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and basic punctuation rules to ensure your writing is error-free.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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