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 first table below displays changes in the total numbers of population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. The second and third table show changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, the table of all five districts shows the total amounts of population throughout the years between 1800 and 2000. In addition, the highest amount of population was in 2000 and the lowest amount of population was in 1800. On the other hand, all the five areas have highest population.
Firstly, the table of Manhattan shows the total sum of inhabitants with its percentage. In the year 1800, community has a gradual decrease and its percentage was 76%. Moreover, between 1900 and 2000, the population dropped significantly with the percentage of 54% and 19%. Meanwhile, other districts also go through from the certain circumstances.
In the end, other areas of New York City also displays its population density along with the percentage. Furthermore, all the areas populace decreases with time. The total amount of population from 1800 to 2000 was started from 18,701 to [redacted phone]. At last their percentage was 24%, 46%, and 81%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to accurately report the data provided in the tables. You have misinterpreted the figures; for example, you state that the population 'decreases with time' and that Manhattan's population dropped to 19%, whereas the data shows a significant overall increase in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. Furthermore, the description of the trends is vague and lacks specific data points to support the main features. To improve, you must carefully read the provided tables and ensure that your summary reflects the actual numerical trends rather than making general, inaccurate statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'In the end', they are often used incorrectly or do not help connect the ideas logically. The transition between the general overview and the specific district data is disjointed. The referencing is also unclear; for instance, the phrase 'other districts also go through from the certain circumstances' is vague and does not link back to the previous information effectively. Improving the logical progression of ideas and using cohesive devices more naturally will enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and often repetitive. You frequently use the word 'amount' to refer to population, which is inaccurate; 'number' or 'figure' would be more appropriate. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'community has a gradual decrease' and 'populace decreases', which do not accurately describe the demographic data. Some phrases are awkward, such as 'go through from the certain circumstances'. To achieve a higher band, you should work on using more precise vocabulary related to statistics and trends, such as 'significant growth', 'fluctuation', or 'proportion'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the table... show', 'all the areas populace decreases'), incorrect article usage, and awkward sentence structures. The use of complex sentences is limited and often results in errors, such as 'The total amount of population from 1800 to 2000 was started from 18,701 to 6.471.089'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of decimals in numbers. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring subject-verb agreement will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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