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 First table below illustrates increase in all over the population of New York city from 1800 to 2000. The second and third table also shows change in increasement of Five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) in the same time.

Overall, the table depict in the data in 1st table in year 1800 of total Population is 79216, 1900 the total population is 3,437,202 and in 2000 it was 8,009,185, while in that particular year Population in second table is 60,515 as percentage of total population is 76% and it inclined in 1900 as 18,50,093 up to 54%, In 2000 it was 1,538,096 up to 19% in Manhattan District.

Additionally the four remaining districts Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island in year 1800 which is shown in table three increased 18701 upto 24%, in 1900 the data elevated to 1,587,109 increased 46%, and in 2000 the data inclined to 6,471,089 upyo the 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to address the task by summarizing the provided tables, but it fails to effectively highlight the main trends or make meaningful comparisons. The data presentation is cluttered and lacks clarity, often misinterpreting the relationship between the total population and the district-specific data. For instance, the description of the percentage changes is confusing and does not clearly contrast the growth of Manhattan against the other four districts. The response lacks a clear overview of the significant population explosion over the two centuries, focusing instead on listing raw numbers without sufficient analysis or synthesis of the information provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into three paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the awkward transition 'while in that particular year'. Referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the connection between the tables and the specific data points mentioned. The internal structure of the paragraphs is disjointed, and the lack of clear signposting makes the information difficult to navigate. The flow of ideas is hindered by repetitive sentence structures and a lack of variety in linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. There are several non-standard word choices and errors in word formation, such as 'increasement' (instead of increase) and 'upyo' (a typo for 'up to'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe trends accurately; for example, the writer uses 'inclined' and 'elevated' in ways that do not fit the context of population growth. The lack of precise terminology for describing statistical data, such as 'surged', 'plummeted', or 'accounted for', significantly limits the quality of the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('The second and third table also shows'), incorrect article usage, and inconsistent punctuation. The sentence structures are predominantly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors, such as the run-on sentence in the second paragraph. The use of numbers and percentages is also grammatically inconsistent, with varying formats (e.g., '18,50,093' vs '1,538,096'). These persistent errors in basic grammar and syntax prevent the response from reaching a higher band.

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