Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-20
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 shows variation in the total number of people in the New York City in 1800, 1900 and 2000. While the second and third tables represents the changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhatttan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, it can be seen from the first table that the 2000 recorded the highest population in New York. Manhattan consistently had the highest proportion of the population except for 2000. The other four cities had the lowest proportion in 1800.
The total population in New York was 79,216 in 1800, with Manhattan accounting for as much as 76% of the whole polulation. While the remaining four disticts shared the remaining 24%. In 1900, the New York population made a sharp climb to 3,437,202. Manhattan also had the highest proportion.
in 2000 at about 8,009,185. In
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. Furthermore, the response is incomplete, ending abruptly in the middle of a sentence. While the introduction and overview attempt to identify main features, the analysis of the data is underdeveloped and lacks a conclusion or a full description of the final period. The failure to complete the task means that the requirements are only partially addressed, leading to a low score for this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is poorly structured due to its incomplete nature. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the lack of a coherent conclusion and the abrupt ending disrupt the flow of information. Cohesive devices are used in a basic manner, such as 'While' and 'In 1900', but the logical progression is hindered by the unfinished state of the text. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the overall arrangement of ideas is fragmented.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for basic description but lacks the range and precision expected for a higher band. There are minor spelling errors, such as 'Manhatttan' and 'polulation'. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on repetitive structures to describe the data. To improve, you should incorporate more varied terminology for describing trends and proportions, such as 'accounted for', 'constituted', or 'witnessed a significant surge'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues, such as 'the second and third tables represents' (should be 'represent'). There are also punctuation errors and sentence fragments, such as the final line 'In 2000 at about 8,009,185. In'. The range of structures is limited, and the frequent errors, combined with the incomplete sentences, make the text difficult to follow at times.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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