Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-21
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 the overall population of the New York city from 1800 till 2000.The table shows that in 1800 the population was seventy nine thousand and later on is gradually increasing in 1900 its 3,437,202 while in 2000 its 8,009,185. In the next table the overall population of the district Manhattan is shown that is in 1800 it is 60 thousand
while in1900 it is eighteen lack and at last 2000 it is 15 lack and the percentage of total population in 1800 is seventy six percent ,1900 is fifty four percent and in 2000 it is nineteen percent. And the last table shows the population of the other four districts Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and last Staten island in 1800 it is eighteen thousand it the percentage of 24 percent in 1900 fifteen lacks with the forty six percent and the last but not the least 2000 with sixty four lacks with the percentage of an eighty one percent.
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 attempts to cover the provided data but fails to present a clear overview or highlight significant trends. The information is presented as a list of figures rather than an analytical summary. Several key features, such as the dramatic growth in the Bronx or the specific decline in Manhattan's percentage share, are not clearly contrasted. The data is often difficult to follow due to the lack of clear grouping and the inclusion of unnecessary detail, such as writing out large numbers in words, which obscures the main trends. To improve, you should focus on identifying the most significant changes and grouping the districts logically to allow for effective comparison.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks paragraphing, which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of information. The text is essentially one long block, and the use of cohesive devices is very limited and repetitive (e.g., 'the table shows', 'in 1800', 'in 1900'). There is no clear logical structure to separate the overall population trends from the specific district data. To improve, you must use clear paragraph breaks to separate your introduction, overview, and body paragraphs, and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. The use of 'lack' instead of 'million' is a significant error that impedes clarity and is not appropriate for an academic report. There is also a lack of variety in reporting verbs and descriptive language; for example, 'is gradually increasing' is used to describe a trend that spans two centuries, which is imprecise. To reach a higher band, you should use more precise terminology for data reporting, such as 'experienced a steady rise', 'accounted for', or 'witnessed a significant decline', and ensure that numerical units are used correctly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally make the meaning difficult to interpret. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the population was... is gradually increasing'), incorrect use of prepositions, and awkward sentence structures. The punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and commas. The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring consistent tense usage when describing historical data, and improving your control over punctuation and capitalization.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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