Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-15
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 information about the changes in the overall papulation of New York city between 1800 and 2000 and changes in population of the five districts of the city over the same period had been demonstrated by table charts.
Overall, it is crystal clear that the highest count of change in other district in population However, the least was in other districts in population.
To begin with , the highest count of changes in other districts in 2000 in population was 6,471,089. Whereas, 18,701 number of changes in other district in 1800, which could be considered as the lowest figure. Surprisingly , 24% of changes in other districts in 1800 in total population ,which was 5% more than the Manhattan in 2000 in total population .
Moving towards the rest of the information ,the count of changes in Manhattan in 1800, 1900, 2000 in population ranged between 60,515 and 1,538,096. Furthermore, the proportion of changes in Manhattan in total population in 1800,1900 was 76% and 54%. Eventually , the number of changes in population in 1800, 1900, 2000 were 79,216 ,3,437,202 and 8,009,185 , respectively.
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 address the task but fails to clearly identify the main trends or make meaningful comparisons. The data selection is confusing, as the student refers to 'other districts' without clearly defining the data points from the tables. The overview is vague and does not accurately reflect the significant population growth across the city or the shifting proportions between districts. Furthermore, the interpretation of the data is often inaccurate, such as the claim regarding the 'highest count of change' which is not supported by the provided tables. To improve, focus on identifying clear trends, such as the overall population increase and the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the outer boroughs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression of ideas is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as 'Moving towards the rest of the information' and 'Eventually', which do not effectively link the data points. The referencing is unclear, particularly the frequent use of 'other districts' and 'changes in population', which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the argument. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks a clear focus, leading to a disjointed presentation of the statistical information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student frequently uses the phrase 'changes in population' and 'count of changes', which is not the most accurate way to describe population statistics. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'highest count of change in other district' and 'papulation' (spelling error). The vocabulary is not sufficiently precise to describe the data trends effectively. To reach a higher band, the student should use a wider variety of terms related to statistics, such as 'fluctuated', 'accounted for', 'proportion', and 'demographic shift'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'had been demonstrated by table charts' (incorrect tense/voice), '18,701 number of changes in other district in 1800, which could be considered as the lowest figure' (fragmented sentence), and inconsistent punctuation. The use of articles and prepositions is often inaccurate. While the meaning is generally discernible, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents 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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