Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-24
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 table shows the population growth from 1800 to 2000 in New York City . While other two tables illustrates change in population and difference in percentage growth in change of total population in Manhattan and other districts respectively.
overall, there is a massive growth of residents in New York City considering all five districts .Same pattern can observed in Manhattan district, a drastic growth in population and a reduction in total population percentage . Same goes with other districts too.
The population of New York City was 79216 in 1800, increased to [redacted phone] in 1900 ,but a significant increase was seen in 2000 where it grew up to [redacted phone].
When we see individual districts , the population growth pattern has been same. In Manhattan ,population was 60515 with 76 percentage in 1800, increased in 1900 and 2000 to [redacted phone] and [redacted phone] with 54 percentage and 19 percentage respectively .
While, in other districts same happened in those time frame 18701, [redacted phone], [redacted phone] with 24 % , 46%and 81% respectively .
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 provides a basic overview of the data, but it fails to fully address the requirements of the task. While it identifies the general trend of population growth, the analysis of the specific districts is fragmented and lacks clarity. The student attempts to compare Manhattan with the 'other districts' but fails to clearly present the data for the remaining four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) individually, which is a key requirement of the prompt. The summary of the percentage changes is also confusing and does not accurately reflect the trends shown in the tables. To improve, ensure all data points are clearly presented and comparisons are made logically.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The introduction is poorly constructed, with a sentence fragment ('While other two tables...'). The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'Same goes with' and 'Same pattern can observed'. The transition between the general city population and the specific district data is abrupt. Paragraphing is present but does not effectively group related ideas, making the overall progression difficult to follow. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms like 'growth', 'increase', and 'change' throughout the text. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'drastic growth in population and a reduction in total population percentage' which is imprecise. The phrasing 'same happened in those time frame' is awkward and unnatural. To achieve a higher band score, the student should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary, including synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease', and practice using more precise academic collocations to describe statistical trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('other two tables illustrates'), missing articles ('in Manhattan district'), and sentence structure (the first paragraph contains a sentence fragment). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before periods and commas. While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often faulty or poorly punctuated. A focus on basic sentence construction, correct use of articles, and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would help improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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