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 tables illustrates about the population change of five districts of the New York City over the period of 200 years, from the year 1800 to the year 2000 . The districts are - ( Manhatten, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten island).
Overall, the change in the local inhabitants of 5 different districts of New York City over the period of 2 centuries.
First and foremost, the total residents of all 5 districts in the year 1800 was 79,216 among which 60,515 , was from Manhattan only and the other 18,701 were from other 4 districts.
After 100 years the total residents has showed an increase of almost 4 times and rise to 3.4 million (approximately).
The Manhattan and the other 4 districts came very close in the context of population with almost difference of 8% of total population. The most interesting year was 2000 where the citizens of Manhattan got decreased but it increased very much in other districts, and rise to 81% of the total population.
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 addresses the task but fails to provide a comprehensive overview. While you mention the total population growth, you omit the specific data for Queens and Staten Island, and the summary of the trends is incomplete. The analysis of the year 2000 is inaccurate based on the provided data, as you state Manhattan's population 'decreased' when the table shows it remained relatively stable compared to the massive growth in other districts. To improve, ensure you report all key features and verify your data interpretation against the tables provided. The response lacks a clear, analytical focus on the comparative trends across the five districts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is disjointed. The second paragraph is a sentence fragment that does not convey a complete thought. While you use some cohesive devices like 'First and foremost' and 'After 100 years', the logical flow between sentences is weak. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to 'other 4 districts' without specifying which ones. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that your ideas follow a logical sequence. Use a wider variety of linking words to connect your observations more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and occasionally imprecise. You use basic terms like 'very much' and 'very close', which lack the academic tone required for Task 1. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'local inhabitants' instead of 'population' and 'got decreased' which is grammatically awkward and lexically weak. You need to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surged', or 'remained stable'. Expanding your range to include more sophisticated collocations will help you achieve a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The tables illustrates'), incorrect article usage ('the New York City'), and awkward phrasing ('the total residents... was 79,216'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of parentheses and commas. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and sentence construction. Practice using a mix of simple and complex structures, ensuring that your verb tenses are consistent when describing historical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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