Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-25
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)
In the first table we see the New York city population.In the year of 1800
the population is 79216.In 1900 the population gone up at [redacted phone],Moreover in the 2000 population become [redacted phone].
In the second table the year of 1800 the population of city Manhattan comes to 60515 and percentage at that point is 76%,and in 1900 the population of Manhattan comes to [redacted phone] and the percentage is 54%.Moreover in the 2000 the city Manhattan population is [redacted phone] and the percentage is 19%.
In the third table we have to see other districts population in different year or the percentage also ,The cities include are (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island).In the year 1800 the population is 18701 and the percentage is 24%.In 1900 the population is [redacted phone] and the percentage is 46%.Moreover in the 2000 the population is [redacted phone] and the percentage is 81%.
Overall, we discuss three tables which have different population of the cities and the percentage in the years of 1800,1900,2000.
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 covers the main features of the data, such as the overall population growth and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is quite superficial. It primarily lists figures rather than synthesising the information or making meaningful comparisons. For instance, the report mentions the population of Manhattan and the other districts separately but fails to highlight the significant trend of the other districts overtaking Manhattan in population share. To reach a higher band, you should focus on identifying key trends and grouping data to show relationships rather than simply transcribing numbers from the tables.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is repetitive and mechanical. Phrases like 'In the first table', 'In the second table', and 'In the third table' are used to start every paragraph, which makes the writing feel formulaic. There is a lack of varied linking words to connect ideas within the paragraphs. The final summary is also very brief and does not effectively synthesise the information presented in the body paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use basic verbs like 'see', 'is', and 'come to' to describe statistical changes. There is little attempt to use more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'experienced a significant increase', 'accounted for', or 'surpassed'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of range and the reliance on simple, repetitive phrasing restricts the score. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of verbs and nouns to describe trends and proportions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and prepositions (e.g., 'the population gone up at', 'population become', 'the year of 1800 the population... comes to'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and unnecessary commas. While these errors do not completely prevent understanding, they are frequent enough to cause some difficulty for the reader. You need to focus on subject-verb agreement and using more complex sentence structures to demonstrate better control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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