Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-22
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)
THR PROVIDED TABLE ILLUSTRATES THE CHNGES IN THE TOTAL POPULATION OF NEW YORK BETWEEN 1800 FROM 2000. THE OTHER TWO CHART DEPICTS THE CHNGE IN POPULATION OF FIVE DIFEERENT CITIES OVER THE SAME PERIOD.
IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT,IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1800 THE POPULATION WAS ABOUT 79,216 WHILE , 3,437,202 POPULATION WAS IN ANOTHER YEAR. MOREOVER ,AFTER ONE YEAR THE RATIO OF PEOPLE WAS AROUND 8,009,185.
FURTHERMORE,IN 1800 THE POPULATION IM MANHATTAN WAS 60,515 AND THE TOTAL PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION WAS 76. IN ADDITION,IN 1900 AND 2000 THE RATION OF INDIVIDUALS WAS 1,850,093 AND 1,538,096 RESPECTIVELY .HOWEVER, THE TOTAL POPULATION OF BOTH YEAR WAS AROUND 54 AND 19.
ON THE OTHER HAND ,18,701 POPULATION WAS IN OTHER DISTRICTS IN 1800 AND 24 % OF TOTAL .HOWEVER IN 1900 THAT WAS 1,587,109 AND 6,471,089 IN NEXT YEAR. BUT, IN 1900 THE TOTAL RATIO WAS 46 WHILE IT WAS DOUBLE IN ANOTHER YEAR.
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 summarize the data but fails to provide a clear overview of the main trends. The data selection is problematic; the student misinterprets the tables, particularly regarding the 'other districts' and the population figures for 1900 and 2000. The comparison between years is confusing, and the analysis of the percentage data is inaccurate. The response lacks a coherent summary of the significant growth patterns across the five districts, focusing instead on isolated, often misquoted figures. To improve, focus on identifying the most significant trends, such as the overall population surge and the shifting dominance of specific districts over the two-century period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression of ideas is weak. The use of cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'On the other hand' is mechanical and often does not reflect the logical relationship between the data points. Referencing is frequently unclear, particularly when discussing 'another year' or 'both year', which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the timeline. The lack of clear transitions between the total population data and the district-specific data hinders the overall flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are frequent spelling errors such as 'CHNGES', 'DIFEERENT', and 'RATION' (used instead of 'ratio' or 'number'). The student relies on basic terminology and struggles to use precise language to describe statistical trends. Phrases like 'ratio of people' are used incorrectly to describe raw population counts. To reach a higher band, the student needs to use a wider range of vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'experienced a significant increase', or 'accounted for a proportion of'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'The other two chart depicts', and incorrect preposition usage, such as 'in 1800 from 2000'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with irregular spacing around commas and periods. The sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at complex sentences are often marred by errors in word order or tense. The use of capitalization throughout the entire text is also inappropriate for formal writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.