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 illustration depicts changes in overall population of new work city from 1800 to 2000 while other data illustrates changes in population of five various district of the city over the same period.
In general , the population of the New work had highest in 2000 whereas the population of Manhattan had highest in 1900 and same in other district.
In 1800 the density of the population in all district of New work had 79,216 then reached [redacted phone] in 1900. Furthermore [redacted phone] reached in over a 100 years.
Manhattan had 60515 in 1800 which was 76% of hole population, similarly in 1900 the population growth to [redacted phone] but the percentage of overall population declined, reached 54%.However in 200 the population of Manhattan declined and reached [redacted phone] with 19% of total population while other district had 18701 in 1800 with 24% of nation population then increased in 1900 reached [redacted phone] by at 46% of population. In 2000 it rose significantly and reached [redacted phone] with 81% of total population
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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, but there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, you state the population of Manhattan was 1,583,8096 in 2000, which is a misreading of the provided table. Additionally, the term 'nation population' is used incorrectly to describe the city's districts. While you attempt to compare the overall population with the districts, the lack of precision in citing figures and the confusion between absolute numbers and percentages hinder the clarity of the report. To improve, ensure you double-check the figures against the source material and use precise terminology when discussing demographic data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'Furthermore 8009185 reached in over a 100 years' lacks a clear subject and logical connection to the previous sentence. The transition between the general population and the district-specific data is abrupt. While there is an attempt to use linking words like 'similarly' and 'however', the logical flow is frequently interrupted by grammatical errors and confusing sentence structures. Improving the variety and accuracy of cohesive devices will help the progression of ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use 'reached' and 'population' without much variation. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'hole population' (likely meaning 'whole') and 'new work city' (a misspelling of New York). The phrase 'five various district' is grammatically incorrect, as it should be 'five various districts'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surged', or 'accounted for', and ensure that proper nouns and technical terms are spelled correctly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede communication. Examples include 'the population of the New work had highest' (missing 'the' and incorrect verb usage) and 'same in other district' (missing articles and pluralization). Sentence structures are often simple or fragmented, and there is a lack of control over complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and incorrect capitalization. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of articles (a/an/the) before nouns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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