Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-26
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 changes that have happen in New York city total population was represented by first table graph. the second and third table describes percentage changes in population that happened in 5 different countries from 1800 to 2000.
In 1800, in New York city the number of population was 79,216 after a decade it increased to 3,437,202. In the year 2000, it was 8,009,185.In the year 1800, the percentage of population in Manhattan was 76 while in 1900 it was decreased to 54 and in 2000 it was 19.
in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island the higher population was in the year 2000 it was 81% and least in 1800 it was 24%. in the year 1900 it was 46%.
overall, it can be said that, the number of population in New York and the percentage of population was higher in the year 2000 in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island.
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 addresses the task but fails to provide a clear overview or highlight the most significant trends. While you mention the population growth, you fail to compare the districts effectively. For example, you state that the population in the other four districts was 'least in 1800', but you do not clearly contrast the shift in dominance from Manhattan to the other districts over the two centuries. The data selection is somewhat mechanical, listing figures without synthesizing the information into a coherent summary of the main features as required by the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between the total population data and the district-specific percentages is abrupt. Cohesive devices are limited and often repetitive (e.g., 'in the year 1800', 'in the year 1900'). There is a lack of variety in linking words, which makes the flow feel mechanical. Furthermore, the final sentence is a weak attempt at an overview, as it merely restates information already provided rather than synthesizing the trends observed in the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. You frequently use the same phrases, such as 'number of population' and 'percentage of population'. There are also errors in word choice, such as referring to the districts as 'countries'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, you should use more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'figure', 'dramatically', or 'fluctuated', and avoid repeating the same sentence structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'the changes that have happen' (should be 'happened'), 'it was decreased' (should be 'it decreased'), and 'the number of population was 79,216' (should be 'the population was'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and incorrect capitalization at the start of sentences. These errors occasionally make the text difficult to follow.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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