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)
These type of table illustrate the change in the total population of New York city from the early 19th century to the early 21st century . the second and third tables describe the changes in the population of five different districts of New York such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island at same period .
overall, the population at the early 19th century was 79,216 people and at the early 20th century : the population was 3,437,202. But, at the early of 21st century the population was8,009,185 people.
Only in district Manhattan, the population was 60,515 people and about 76%of total population at 1800and like other districts of New York, the population was 18,701 people and about 24% of the total population at 1800
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 meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. Furthermore, the content is incomplete; while it introduces the data, it fails to provide a comprehensive summary of the trends across the two centuries. The analysis is limited to the start and end points of the total population and a brief mention of 1800, neglecting the significant fluctuations and growth patterns of the individual districts over the 200-year period. To improve, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed and provide a more detailed comparison of the data points provided in the tables.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a clear structure. While there is an attempt at an introduction and an overview, the paragraphs are not well-developed, and the transition between ideas is abrupt. The use of cohesive devices is minimal and often mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'the population was'. The lack of logical progression makes it difficult for the reader to follow the trends over time. To improve, use linking words like 'subsequently', 'in contrast', or 'meanwhile' to connect your ideas and ensure each paragraph has a clear focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'the population was' are used repeatedly, which limits the range of expression. There are also errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'These type of table' (should be 'These types of tables') and 'at same period' (should be 'during the same period'). To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider variety of synonyms for 'increase', 'growth', and 'proportion', and focus on more precise collocations related to statistical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The text contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('These type of table'), missing articles ('at early 19th century'), and punctuation errors, such as the inconsistent use of colons and spacing ('was8,009,185'). The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with little evidence of complex grammatical forms. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct article usage and subject-verb agreement, before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.