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)
There are three tables given which are related population changes in New York city from year 1800 to 2000, There are five districts of city given such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, queens, and state island.
The first table shows New York city all five districts population changes with year, In year1800 there were 79,216 population in all five cities, In year 1900 there were 3,437,202 number of population in all five districts and in year 2000 there are 8,009,185 population in all five districts.
The second table shows population of specific city Manhattan, In year 1800 there were 60,515 number of population which in percentage were 24%, whereas in year 1900 there are 1,[redacted phone] number of population which in percentage were 46% and in year 2000 there were 6,471,089 number of population and in percentage were 81%.
The third table shows population in rest four cities such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island. In year 1800 there were 18,701 number of population which in percentage were 24% , In year 1900 there were 1,587,109 number of population and in percentage were 46% and in year 2000 there were 6,471,089 number of population in percentage of 81%.
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 summarize the data but fails to accurately report the main features. There are significant factual errors; for instance, the third table data is copied incorrectly from the second table, leading to identical figures for Manhattan and the other four districts, which is incorrect. The overview is missing, and the report lacks a clear comparison of trends. The response focuses on listing individual data points rather than identifying the overall growth patterns or the shifting proportions between the districts. To improve, you must synthesize the data to highlight the most significant changes over the 200-year period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on 'In year...' to start sentences. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the second and third paragraphs is problematic because the data provided is contradictory and confusing. The lack of an overview makes the structure feel like a list of disconnected facts rather than a cohesive report. Improving the use of linking words such as 'whereas', 'in contrast', or 'consequently' would help create a better flow between ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use the word 'number' and 'population' in a way that is often redundant or grammatically awkward (e.g., 'number of population'). There is little attempt to use a range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'soared', 'remained stable', or 'accounted for'. The spelling of proper nouns like 'queens' and 'state island' should be capitalized correctly. To reach a higher band, you need to use more precise terminology related to data description and avoid repeating the same basic sentence structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'there are 79,216 population') and punctuation, particularly with comma splices and run-on sentences. The sentence structures are mostly simple, with little evidence of complex grammatical forms. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents a higher score. Focusing on correct verb tenses for past data and improving sentence variety would significantly enhance the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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