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)
The table chart illustrates the changes of percentage of population in New York city and districts over a period of time.
Overall, the percentage of people live in Manhattan contribute largely to total population as compare to percentage of individuals live in other districts.
To begin, the number of people contribution to the population of Manhattan is high (60,515)in the year of 1800 as compare to other districts with account for 18,701 . However, in the year of 1900 and 2000 the percentage decline sharply (from 76 percent to 54 percent then 54 to 19 percent) in Manhattan district.
Moreover, we can see a sharp rise in the percentage of population in Brooklyn ,Bronx, queens and Staten island in both the years 1900 and 2000. Moving further, all five districts show a sharply increase in number of populations in New York City from year 1800 to 2000
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 fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified some main features, the analysis is superficial. You have confused raw population numbers with percentages in your description of Manhattan (60,515 is a number, not a percentage). Furthermore, the data interpretation is inconsistent; you mention a 'sharp rise' in population for all districts, but the data shows significant variation that requires more precise reporting. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between raw figures and percentages, and provide a more comprehensive overview of the trends across all categories provided in the tables.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into a brief introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. However, the logical progression is hindered by the lack of clear data reporting. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin', 'However', and 'Moreover', but they are sometimes used mechanically or to introduce inaccurate information. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks the depth needed to guide the reader through the data effectively. Improving the logical flow between the total population trends and the specific district breakdowns would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use basic terms like 'percentage', 'number', and 'sharp'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'people live in Manhattan contribute largely' (should be 'the population of Manhattan accounts for a large proportion') and 'number of populations' (population is an uncountable noun in this context). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'demographic', 'fluctuate', and 'significant growth'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'as compare to' (should be 'compared to'), 'with account for' (should be 'accounting for'), and 'sharply increase' (should be 'sharp increase'). Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, such as 'percentage of people live' instead of 'percentage of people living'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction and verb forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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