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 above represents the data of New York city’s all five districts, broken down by the proportion in Manhattan and the rest of the five districts from the 1800 to 2000. New York City population has significantly increased over the years. However Manhattan district population seems to be falling over the years whereas the rest of the districts population has gradually increased. New York City population has risen over five times from 1800 to 1900 and over more than two times from 1900 to 2000 but Manhattan district population has increased gradually over the course of two years before taking a drop in the 2000. But its proportion in total population has been gradually falling every year. For the other districts The both population and their proportion in total population has risen significantly over the course of three years. We can observe that people in Manhattan district are slowly migrating to the other parts of New York city or to the other parts of the country.
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 covers the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is hampered by significant factual inaccuracies regarding the data. For instance, you mention the population increased 'over the course of two years' or 'three years', which misinterprets the century-long timeframes provided in the tables. Additionally, the claim that Manhattan's population is 'falling' is not fully supported by the data, which shows fluctuations rather than a consistent decline. To improve, ensure you accurately interpret the time periods and figures provided in the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks paragraphing, which is essential for a clear structure in an IELTS report. While there is a basic attempt at logical progression, the flow is hindered by repetitive phrasing and a lack of varied cohesive devices. Transitions between sentences are often mechanical, such as the repeated use of 'over the years' and 'gradually'. To reach a higher band, you should group related information into distinct paragraphs—for example, one for the total population and another for the district comparisons—and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'significantly increased', 'gradually increased', and 'gradually falling' are used repeatedly, which restricts the range of your writing. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'the data of New York city’s all five districts', which is awkward. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms for growth and decline, and focus on using collocations more naturally. Expanding your range of descriptive language will help you convey the trends in the data with greater precision and sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the rest of the five districts' (should be 'the other four districts') and 'The both population and their proportion' (incorrect article usage and structure). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles 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.