Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-19
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 given tables shows the population changes in New York and five other cites Manhattan , Brooklyn , Bronx ,Queens and state land during the period of 1800 to 2000.
Overall , the tables illustrates the population changes in New York and five cites . The first table describes that the population in New York increases throughout the time . The second and third tables describes the population changes in the given cities and percentage ratio with the whole population .
The first table illustrates that in 1800 New York population is 79,216 which becomes 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 2000.The second table describes that in 1800 the population of Manhattan is 60 ,5165 and 76 % compared with total population and becomes 1,850 ,093 in 1900 and percentage becomes 54 %and in 2000 it changes to 1,538,096 and percentage becomes 19 %.
The third table illustrates that population of given cities in 1800 is 18,701 and percentage is 24 % and it increases to 1,587 ,109 and percentage changes to 46 % in 1900 . the population in 2000 becomes 6,471,089 and percentage becomes 81 %.
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 addresses the task but lacks a clear overview of the main trends, such as the significant shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other four boroughs. The data selection is somewhat mechanical, simply listing figures rather than comparing them effectively. For instance, the response fails to highlight the dramatic decline in Manhattan's percentage share (from 76% to 19%) versus the growth in the other boroughs. While the key figures are present, the analysis is limited, and the report lacks a cohesive summary of the overall patterns, which is essential for a higher band score in Task 1.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on phrases like 'The first table illustrates' and 'The second table describes'. There is a lack of linking words to show contrast or comparison (e.g., 'whereas', 'in contrast', 'while'). Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to the 'third table' and the 'given cities', which makes the flow of information difficult to follow. Paragraphing is present but does not effectively group related data points.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and contains several errors in terminology and spelling. For example, 'cites' is used instead of 'boroughs' or 'districts', and 'state land' is an incorrect reference to 'Staten Island'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe trends accurately; terms like 'increases' and 'changes' are used repeatedly without variation. There are also issues with number formatting (e.g., '60 ,5165'), which detracts from the professional tone required for an Academic Task 1 report. More precise vocabulary related to data trends is needed.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Subject-verb agreement is inconsistent, such as 'The given tables shows' and 'The second and third tables describes'. There are also errors in sentence structure and punctuation, particularly with spacing around commas and numbers. While the writer attempts to use complex sentences, the control is weak, leading to awkward phrasing. The range of structures is limited, and the frequent errors in basic grammar prevent the response from reaching a higher band.
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