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 first table illustrates the total population in New York city from 1800 to 2000, while other two table display the changes in number of people across five different district over the same period.
Overall, it's clear that the population of New York City dramatically increase between 1800 and 2000, while Manhattan experienced the rapidly increase over the same period. However, The proportion shows went down. Furthermore, the population of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island registered growth between 1800 and 2000. In addition, the percentage had increase over the same years.
In 1800, the population of human registered 79,216 and Rapidly increased stood at 8,009,185 , in the end of 2000.
The population in Manhattan shows 60,515 in 1800 and at the end of 2000, it had 1,538,096 although the percentage went down from 76% to 19%.
For other five district,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is incomplete, as it cuts off mid-sentence at the end. Furthermore, it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words. While you have identified some main features, such as the overall population growth and the shift in Manhattan's percentage, the analysis is superficial and lacks a comprehensive comparison of the five districts. The data reporting is also inaccurate in places, such as the confusing phrasing 'Rapidly increased stood at 8,009,185'. To improve, you must complete the task, ensure all data points are clearly presented, and provide a more detailed comparison of the trends across all districts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is poorly structured due to the incomplete nature of the final paragraph. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the logical flow is disrupted by the abrupt ending. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical and repetitive way, such as the frequent use of 'in addition' and 'furthermore'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to 'other five district' without naming them or providing the necessary data. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, complete focus that contributes to the overall summary.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and often used incorrectly. For example, 'the proportion shows went down' is grammatically and lexically awkward. There is also a reliance on basic vocabulary, such as 'increase' and 'growth', without demonstrating the ability to use more precise academic terminology like 'surged', 'plummeted', or 'accounted for'. Some word choices are inappropriate for an academic report, such as 'population of human'. To improve, practice using synonyms and collocations relevant to describing statistical trends and demographic changes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. Examples include 'other two table display' (missing pluralization), 'dramatically increase' (incorrect tense), and 'the percentage had increase' (incorrect verb form). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and the attempt at complex sentences often results in errors, such as 'the population of human registered 79,216 and Rapidly increased stood at 8,009,185'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and comma usage. You need to focus on subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, and basic sentence construction to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.