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 provided table illustrates that population of New work city of five districts from 1800 to 2000 have been increasing. Population in 1800 is 79216 , in addition, 1900 is [redacted phone] , overall in 2000 is [redacted phone].
When we compare the growth of Manhattan with remaining districts , we can see that the growth of Manhattan have been decreasing from 1800 to 2000. In 1800, the total percentage is 76% that contains 60515, while other districts contain 18701 with 24 %. In 1900 , it's contains 54% as [redacted phone] whereas other districts contain 46% with [redacted phone], however, the Percentage of people in Manhattan in 1900 are 19%. In addition, other districts contain 81% which shows that other districts have been increasing from 3 years. While mahataan have been decreasing their percentage. There are numerous difference between them. According to districts , population can be decreased as well as increased by years.
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. While it mentions the total population increase, the analysis of the districts is confusing and inaccurate. For instance, the claim that Manhattan's growth has been 'decreasing' is misleading; while its percentage share of the total population declined, the actual population numbers increased significantly. The data interpretation is inconsistent, and the response lacks a clear comparison of the five districts as requested. Key features, such as the rapid growth of Brooklyn or the relative stability of Staten Island, are completely overlooked, resulting in a response that only partially addresses the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks a logical structure. It is written as a single paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used in a mechanical and often incorrect way, such as the repetitive use of 'in addition' and 'however' without clear logical links. The referencing is frequently unclear, particularly when discussing percentages and population figures, which makes the text difficult to read. There is no clear paragraphing strategy, and the transition between the total population data and the district-specific data is abrupt and confusing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'increasing', 'decreasing', and 'contains'. There are several errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'New work city' (spelling error) and 'the Percentage of people in Manhattan in 1900 are 19%'. The student struggles to use precise terminology to describe statistical trends, such as 'growth' versus 'proportion'. The lack of variety in vocabulary restricts the ability to convey the information accurately, and the errors in basic terminology occasionally impede the reader's understanding of the data being presented.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'growth of Manhattan have been decreasing'), incorrect article usage, and awkward sentence construction. The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences that are often poorly formed. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas and periods. While the meaning is generally decipherable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence structure prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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