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 changes all population of USA between 1800 to 2000.Afterally,the second and third both tables show changes in community of the five districts of the city over the period.
Overall, it can be seen that in New York in 2000 the population of all five districts higher than others.
At a cursory glance it can be seen that, in year 2000 have greater number values of 1,538,096 take place first on the table.However,in manhattan the percentage of people were 19 percent and in other provinces were much higher better around eighty one percent respectively.Furthermore,the 1900 year take second place in the table with amount of population 3,437,202 and 54% in the manhattan.Consequently,in other island the ratio were bitter lower around 46%.Lastly,in year 1800 was the lowest population rather than other with number of 79,216 in USA and rise in manhattan around 76% and too much decrease in Brooklyn lowest percentage.
In conclusion, the year of 2000 take first place in population rather than previous years respectively.
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 attempts to address the task but fails to accurately interpret the provided data. The student misidentifies the subject matter, referring to 'USA' instead of New York City, and misinterprets the tables by confusing population totals with percentages. The overview is vague and does not highlight the main trends, such as the consistent growth of the total population or the shifting distribution across the five boroughs. Key data points are presented in a confusing manner, making it difficult for the reader to follow the actual trends shown in the tables. To improve, focus on accurately identifying the data labels and describing the overall growth patterns rather than listing isolated, misinterpreted figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. While some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'In conclusion' are used, they are often applied incorrectly or do not logically connect the ideas. The referencing is frequently unclear, particularly when discussing 'other provinces' or 'other island', which does not align with the provided data. The flow of information is disjointed, and the lack of clear, accurate comparisons makes the text difficult to follow. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate. There is a reliance on basic terms and frequent misuse of words, such as 'provinces' instead of 'boroughs' or 'districts', and 'bitter lower' instead of 'significantly lower'. The student struggles to use precise terminology to describe statistical trends, leading to confusion. To reach a higher band, the student should learn specific vocabulary for describing data, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', 'accounted for', and 'proportion'. Expanding the range of vocabulary and ensuring correct word choice is essential for clearer communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede meaning. There are issues with article usage ('in year 2000'), subject-verb agreement ('the ratio were'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack the necessary complexity to demonstrate a range of structures. For example, 'the year of 2000 take first place' should be 'the year 2000 took first place'. The student relies on simple sentence structures, and the persistent errors in tense and pluralisation suggest a lack of control over basic grammatical rules. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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