Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-23
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 given tabular chart shows changes in the total population of new york city from 1800 to 2000.
In the first year 1800, number of people living in new york is 79,216 after 10 years in 1900 the population increases and becomes 3,437,202 whereas in 2000 the population comes out to be 8,009,185
In the first year, 1800 population is 60,515 the total population during this year is 24% whereas in 1900 population is 46% whereas in 2000, the population comes out to be 81%
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 score. Furthermore, the content is incomplete; it only addresses the total population and one district (Manhattan, implied by the figures), failing to report on the other four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) as required by the prompt. The data selection is insufficient, and the analysis lacks a clear overview or comparison of the trends across the different boroughs. To improve, you must ensure all data sets provided in the tables are summarised and that you meet the minimum length requirement to allow for a full development of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks a logical structure. It consists of two short paragraphs that do not follow a clear progression. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas, and the transition between the total population data and the specific district data is abrupt. The paragraphing is insufficient, and the overall organisation is disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of the data over the 200-year period. Using linking words such as 'furthermore', 'in contrast', or 'consequently' would help improve the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'the population comes out to be' are used multiple times, which is unnatural and imprecise. There is a lack of variety in reporting verbs and nouns related to data trends (e.g., 'increases', 'total population'). To reach a higher band, you should use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'witnessed a significant rise', 'accounted for', or 'experienced a steady growth'. Additionally, ensure proper capitalisation of proper nouns like 'New York City'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors, particularly regarding sentence structure and punctuation. There are run-on sentences and missing articles (e.g., 'number of people living in new york is...'). The use of tenses is inconsistent, and the sentence structures are overly simplistic, relying heavily on basic subject-verb-object patterns. There is no evidence of complex sentence structures. To improve, focus on using a mix of simple and complex sentences, ensure correct subject-verb agreement, and pay closer attention to punctuation and the use of articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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