Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-13
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 shows the changes in the total population of New York City from the 1800 to 2000. The show changes population of the five districts of the city that are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, states island over the same period .
Overall, it is clear that New York with five districts have the population over the 8,009,185 in 2000. The manhattan district has the more population over the other period.
The population of the manhattan district in 1800 is 60,515 as percentage is 76% . In 1900 it has increased on 1,850,093 is 54%. In 2000 it’s rapidly fell from the year 1900 , with the population 19%.
The other four district's in the year 1800 its population is 18,701 with the 24%, the year 1900 is 1,587,109 with the 46% of total population. And it has climbed 6,471,089 in the year 2000 with 81% total population. So it is clear that the other four district’s are higher than the manhattan district.
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 summarise the data but fails to provide a clear or accurate overview. While it identifies the total population and mentions the five districts, the analysis of the data is flawed. For instance, the statement that Manhattan had 'more population over the other period' is inaccurate, as the data shows the other four districts combined significantly outnumbered Manhattan by 1900. Furthermore, the description of the percentage trends is confusing and lacks precision. The response fails to highlight key trends effectively, such as the dramatic growth of the outer boroughs compared to the relative decline in Manhattan's share of the total population. The information provided is often contradictory or poorly interpreted, leading to a lack of clarity in the summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'in the year' and 'with the'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when referring to 'the other four district's', which makes the flow of information disjointed. While there is an attempt to group data, the lack of clear transitions between the total population and the specific district data makes the essay difficult to follow. The paragraphing is present but does not effectively separate the distinct sets of data provided in the tables.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'states island' (Staten Island), 'the more population', and 'it’s rapidly fell'. The student struggles to use precise terminology to describe statistical trends, relying on basic verbs like 'increased' or 'climbed' without nuance. Some terms are used incorrectly, such as 'as percentage is 76%', which hinders the reader's understanding of the data. To improve, the student should focus on learning specific vocabulary for describing trends and ensuring accurate spelling of proper nouns and technical terms.
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 show changes population'), incorrect use of articles, and awkward sentence structures ('The other four district's in the year 1800 its population is...'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the misuse of apostrophes in plural nouns like 'district's'. While the student attempts some complex sentence structures, they are often faulty and contain errors. The control of basic grammar is insufficient, and the frequent errors in tense and sentence construction prevent the response from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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