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 following tables illustrates the information about the change of the population of New York City between 1800 and 2000 and they also show the population changes of Manhattan and other four districts as well as their percentage and the total population.
overall, the population of New York City is significantly increased and the population of the Manhattan is rapidly decreased the percentage of other four districts were became much populated.
In 1800 the population of New York City was only 79,216 and when it comes to Manhattan there is 76% which is 60,515 population. while the other four districts were having less population rate of 24% and the number of population is 18,701.
In 1900 all the population of New York City gradually increased to 3,437,202 and the Manhattan population is also increased and fall in 54% by 1,850,093 the population of the all four districts were also increased to 46%.
In 2000 the New York City population is highly increased and reaches to 8,009,185 Manhattan population is slightly decreased to 1,53,096 it is almost a million people population was decreased
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main trends, such as the overall growth of NYC and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is hampered by significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, the claim that Manhattan's population 'rapidly decreased' from 1800 to 2000 is misleading, as the data shows it grew significantly until 1900 before declining. Furthermore, the final figure for 2000 (1,53,096) is a misreading of the table. The overview is present but lacks precision. To improve, ensure that data points are transcribed accurately and that trends are described with reference to the specific time periods provided in the tables.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the chronological structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the abrupt transition 'overall, the population...'. There is a lack of variety in linking words, and the progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the 'other four districts'. Improving the use of cohesive devices like 'consequently', 'in contrast', or 'furthermore' would help create a smoother flow between sentences and paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'increased', 'decreased', and 'population'. There are errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'were became much populated' and 'less population rate'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to convey the data with the necessary precision required for an Academic Task 1 response. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied reporting verbs and nouns, such as 'surged', 'plummeted', 'proportion', and 'demographic shift', while ensuring they are used in the correct grammatical context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'tables illustrates'), incorrect verb tenses, and awkward sentence structures (e.g., 'the Manhattan population is also increased and fall in 54%'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing commas and full stops. While there is an attempt at complex sentences, they are often faulty. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement and tense consistency would significantly improve the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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