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 tables imply the rise of population in New York and its five districts in two decades, where Manhattan alone contributes the most among the five districts, which is two-third of the total population. The population growth spiked and doubled in Manhattan between the year 1800 to1900, whereas, the four cities altogether have less growth than that. Between 1900 and 2000, the growth seems steady in both Manhattan and the other four countries. Thus, can be seen that the population growth was unsteady between 1800 and 1900 in the whole New York, rising from 79,216 to 3,437,202, which is fourfold than the former year. On the other hand, the growth is seen steady between 1900 and 2000, rising from 3,437,202 to 8,009,185, which is double in one decade.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified some general trends, the analysis is hampered by inaccuracies regarding the data. For example, you state that Manhattan contributes two-thirds of the total population, which is not supported by the provided tables. Furthermore, the description of the growth between 1900 and 2000 as 'double in one decade' is a misinterpretation of the century-long period. To improve, ensure you carefully read the data points and provide a more comprehensive overview of all five districts rather than focusing primarily on Manhattan.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is written as a single paragraph, which lacks the necessary structure for an IELTS Task 1 report. While there is a basic attempt to sequence information, the lack of clear paragraphing makes the progression of ideas feel disjointed. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand' and 'Thus', but they are sometimes used incorrectly or in a way that does not logically connect the sentences. To improve, you should organize your report into a clear introduction, an overview of the main trends, and separate paragraphs for detailed comparisons.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'rise', 'growth', and 'steady'. There are also issues with word choice, such as referring to the five districts as 'four countries' and 'four cities', which is inaccurate. The use of 'fourfold' and 'two-third' shows an attempt to use more precise language, but these are undermined by the factual errors in your interpretation of the data. To reach a higher band, focus on using more varied verbs and nouns to describe trends, such as 'surged', 'fluctuated', or 'a significant proportion'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'which is fourfold than the former year' is grammatically incorrect, and 'Thus, can be seen that' is missing a subject. There are also issues with punctuation and preposition usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and review your use of comparative structures.

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

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