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 demonstrate the increase in number of people residing in New York city from year 1800 to 2000. Overall in year 1800, the number of population is quite low as compared to the year 1900 and 2000. There is drastic increase in population in 1900 where as there is only slight increase in year 2000.
There maximum number of population is seen in Manhattan in compared to other four district even though there is continuous decrease in population from year 1800 to 2000. But in case of other district there is exact opposite. At first the is only 22% of increase in number in 1900 whereas in year 2000 there is 35% increase in population.
From the tables above it can be concluded that people are preferring to stay in other districts rather than Manhattan.
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 fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you identify the general trend of population growth, the analysis is superficial. You mention Manhattan's population decrease and the growth in other districts, but you fail to provide specific data points from the tables to support these claims. The task requires a more detailed summary of the main features and comparisons. By omitting specific figures (e.g., the exact population numbers or percentage shifts), the response remains under-developed and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is weak. The transition between the general population overview and the district-specific analysis is abrupt. Cohesive devices are limited and sometimes misused, such as the phrase 'But in case of other district there is exact opposite,' which is grammatically awkward and lacks clarity. The referencing is also imprecise, as you refer to 'other districts' without clearly distinguishing between them or using cohesive links to connect the ideas effectively. More varied linking words are needed to improve the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You rely on simple terms like 'increase,' 'decrease,' and 'number of population.' There is little attempt to use a wider range of vocabulary appropriate for describing statistical data, such as 'fluctuation,' 'significant growth,' or 'proportion.' Furthermore, there are errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'The first table demonstrate' (should be 'demonstrates') and 'in compared to' (should be 'compared to'). To improve, you should focus on using more precise terminology for trends and proportions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The first table demonstrate'), missing articles ('in year 2000'), and awkward sentence construction ('There maximum number of population is seen'). You rely mostly on simple sentence structures, and attempts at more complex sentences are often marred by errors. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the lack of grammatical control limits the ability to convey information accurately. Focusing on basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement would be a good starting point for improvement.
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.