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 first table illustrate the change of complete population of New York city between 200 years.and the second table describe the change of five other country as a same time.
New York population is a much than other and Manhattan population decrease between 200 years.
In the 1800 the population of New York city was only 79216. On the other hand the population of Manhattan was 76 percent. after that 1900 the new city population increase ans stop in [redacted phone] and the Manhattan population decrease and coming on 54 percent and the other districts population increase 22 percent.In the 2000 new population increase and come on 8,009,185. and the other hand the population of Manhattan come on lowest point only 19 percent. and the other districts population increase and come on the highest point 81 percent.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified some main features, such as the overall population growth and the shift in proportions between Manhattan and the other districts, the analysis is superficial. You have not fully reported the data for all time periods or made sufficient comparisons between the categories. The summary lacks a clear overview of the trends, and the under-length nature of the response means that the task is only partially addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a logical structure. There is no clear paragraphing, and the flow of information is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is very limited and often inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'and the other hand' and 'after that'. The lack of proper sentence boundaries and punctuation makes the progression of ideas difficult to follow. To improve, you should group related data into distinct paragraphs and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your sentences and ideas more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'change', 'increase', and 'decrease' throughout the text. There are also errors in word choice, such as using 'country' instead of 'districts' or 'boroughs', and 'complete population' instead of 'total population'. The phrasing is often unnatural, which hinders the clarity of your report. You need to expand your range of vocabulary to include more precise terms for describing data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surged', or 'accounted for'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The first table illustrate'), incorrect tense usage, and missing articles. Sentence structure is often simplistic or fragmented, with many sentences lacking proper punctuation. For example, 'New York population is a much than other' is grammatically incorrect and unclear. You need to focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct verb forms and the appropriate use of articles, before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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