Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-16

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 PROVIDED DATA ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES IN THE TOTAL PEOPLE OF VARIOUS CITIES BETWEEN 1800 AND 2000.

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the other disticts were having lowest population in 1800;however,New york city recorded the highest population in same the same period.

Turning towards the details,in 1900,the New york city accounted almost twofolds of people than that were in Manhattan,3,437,202 and 1,850,093 respctively.in the other districts ,percentage of total population in 1900 was around doubled as compared in 1800,46% and 24% in the same order.beside this,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 91 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While the student attempts to identify some data points, the summary is incomplete and lacks a comprehensive overview of the trends across the two-century period. The analysis of the tables is fragmented, and the response ends abruptly mid-sentence, preventing a full development of the main features or relevant comparisons. To improve, the student must ensure all parts of the prompt are covered and provide a more thorough analysis of the data provided in all three tables.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response shows some attempt at logical organization, such as an introductory sentence and a transition to details. However, the paragraphing is insufficient, and the text is too brief to demonstrate a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used in a mechanical and sometimes incorrect manner, such as the awkward phrasing 'Turning towards the details,in 1900'. The lack of a conclusion and the abrupt ending significantly hinder the flow of information. To improve, the student should use more varied linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, leading to a logical development of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'disticts' instead of 'districts', 'twofolds' used incorrectly, and 'respctively' (misspelled). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the data with precision. For example, 'total people' is not an academic way to refer to population figures. To reach a higher band, the student needs to use a wider range of vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'proportion', and pay closer attention to spelling and accurate word formation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including issues with punctuation (missing spaces after commas), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. For instance, 'the other disticts were having lowest population' is grammatically incorrect. The sentence structures are mostly simple and contain errors that occasionally impede the reader's understanding. There is a lack of complex sentence structures. To improve, the student should focus on basic sentence construction, correct punctuation, and ensuring that articles and prepositions are used accurately throughout the text.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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