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 tables show variations in the total population of New York city and the five districts Manhattan, Brooklyn , Bronx ,Queens and Staten Island from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the population of New York saw a sudden increase over the period from year 1800 to 2000 , where only Manhattan contributed 76% to the total population in the year 1800 and all other districts had the most number of people which was recorded 81% in the year 2000.
In the year 2000, New York had the most number of people which were 8,009,185 , out of which 81% of the population lived in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island whereas only 19% lived in Manhattan.
Manhattan had 76% of the population which was counted as 60515 in the New York. Also , in 1800 , the total population of New York was recorded as 3,437,202 where again 1,850,093 people preferred living in Manhattan and 1,587,109 lived in other 4 districts.
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 accurately interpret the provided data. You have confused the figures for 1800 and 2000, stating that the total population in 1800 was 3,437,202, whereas the table clearly shows this figure for 1900. Furthermore, the claim that Manhattan contributed 76% in 1800 is incorrect based on the provided data. While you have attempted to select main features, the factual inaccuracies significantly undermine the task achievement. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference the years and figures in the tables before writing, as misinterpreting the data leads to a failure to report the information accurately.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by the factual errors mentioned above. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall' and 'whereas', but they are sometimes used to connect inaccurate information, which makes the argument difficult to follow. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the 'other 4 districts'. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one and that your transitions accurately reflect the relationship between the data points being compared.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'most number of people' are used multiple times, which is not natural English. There are also issues with precision; for example, 'variations' is a vague term for population growth. You should aim to use more specific vocabulary related to trends, such as 'significant growth', 'proportion', or 'accounted for'. The spelling of 'Manhattan' is correct, but the overall lexical control is basic and lacks the flexibility required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement and awkward sentence structures, such as 'where only Manhattan contributed 76%... and all other districts had the most number of people'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas (e.g., 'Brooklyn , Bronx'). While you have attempted some complex sentences, they are often grammatically flawed. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction and ensure that your punctuation follows standard English rules.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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