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 First Table illustrates the total population of new york city from 1800 to 2000.
In which we can see the New York City (All Five districts) In the year of 1800 total population is 79.216, In 1900 total population 3,437,202 and in 2000 8,009,165 Population was living in the city.
Where we see the the city of manhattan in the year of 1800 total population is 60,515 as percentage of total population is 76%. in 1900 and 2000 Population 1,850,093 as percentage of total population is 54% and 1538,096 as percentage of total population is 19% respectively.
Where we see other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten, island) in the year of 1800,1900 and 2000 total population was 18,701 as percentage of total population is 24% 1,587,109 as percentage of total population 46% and in the last 6,471,089 as percentage of total population.
here is the the summary of the above table where they calculate the population of new york city, mahattan and other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens etc in the year 1800,1900 and 2000.
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 or highlight the main trends effectively. The information is presented as a list of figures rather than an analytical summary. Several key features, such as the dramatic growth in Queens or the decline in Manhattan's relative share, are not discussed. The data is presented in a fragmented way, and the inclusion of 'other districts' as a single group obscures the specific trends for individual boroughs like Queens or Staten Island, which were requested by the prompt. The response lacks a clear, cohesive summary of the overall trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into short, disjointed paragraphs that lack logical progression. The use of cohesive devices is repetitive and mechanical, with almost every sentence starting with 'In which we can see' or 'Where we see'. There is no clear transition between the total population data and the district-specific data. The paragraphing is ineffective, as the final paragraph acts as a redundant summary rather than a conclusion. The referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of data points across the three time periods.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on basic terms like 'total population', 'percentage', and 'year'. There is no attempt to use a range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'significant increase', 'dramatic growth', 'proportion', or 'fluctuation'. The phrasing is often awkward, such as 'in the last 6,471,089 as percentage of total population', which is grammatically incomplete and lacks the necessary lexical precision to describe statistical data. The range is insufficient for an academic task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. There are issues with sentence structure, such as fragments ('In which we can see...') and run-on sentences. Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and capitalization (e.g., 'new york city', 'manhattan'). Verb tense usage is inconsistent, and there is a lack of complex sentence structures. Many sentences are poorly constructed, making the information difficult to interpret. The errors are frequent and often cause difficulty for the reader.
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