Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-18
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 rendered table depicts the information about the total population of New York from 1800 to 2000. The population of the five districts of the city under the same period.
Overall, the maximum figure of population in 2000 given time period aspect Manhattan, While the minimum count of population in 1800 in New York , Manhattan and Other districts.
In detail, the population of New York in 1800 were 79,216. After one year population was increased with 3,437,202, While In 2000 number of people was reached at 8,009,185. Further In Manhattan former year population were 60,515 and as a percentage was 76% in 1900, Then next year number of people were 1,850,093 and its percentage it stood at 54%. In the last year, Manhattan population was 1,538,096 and its percentage reached at 19%. After that, the other districts first year population were 18,701 and as a percentage was 24%. then next year In 1900 number of people was 1,587,.109 and its percentage reached at 46%. last year percentage it stood at 51%.
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 summarise the data but fails to provide a clear overview or accurately report the main features. The information provided is often confusing or factually incorrect based on the tables (e.g., stating the population increased by 3,437,202 'after one year'). The comparison between Manhattan and other districts is attempted, but the lack of clarity regarding the specific years and the misinterpretation of the data points significantly hinders the response. The summary lacks a logical selection of key trends, making it difficult for the reader to grasp the overall changes in New York's population over the two centuries.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is disjointed. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall' and 'In detail', but they are often followed by confusing or grammatically incorrect sentences that disrupt the flow. Referencing is frequently unclear, particularly when discussing the districts, which makes the relationship between the data points difficult to follow. The lack of logical sequencing and the mechanical use of transitions prevent the response from achieving a higher score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'given time period aspect' and 'former year population'. The student struggles to express numerical data accurately, leading to awkward phrasing like 'number of people was reached at'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic topic, the lack of precision and the presence of errors in basic terminology limit the range and effectiveness of the language used.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the population... were 79,216'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence structures. The attempt at complex sentences is often faulty, leading to confusion. Punctuation is also problematic, such as the stray decimal point in '1,587,.109'. While the meaning can be inferred in some places, the high frequency of errors throughout the text indicates a lack of control over basic grammatical structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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