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 First Table illustrate the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000 population.
Overall, we have seen in the table that their is massive population hike was recorded from 1800 to 2000 Century. Population initiated from 79,216 and after 100 years it expand to 3,437,202 and in 2000 it last to 8,009,185. Massive hike we have seen in the table.
Where other side we see the table of Manhattan from 1800 to 2000 Century we have seen the highest growth of 76% in 1800 Century and lowest growth record 19% in 2000 where 1900 Century recorded the hike of 54%.
Other Districts table shows the percentage of total population recorded highest at 81% in 2000 Century and lowest population record in 1800 Century was 24% and 1900 Century remain at 46%.
In the Summary, if we compare all the tables the highest population recorded in New York City at 2000 Century around 8,009,185 and the lowest growth was seen in 1800 Century about 18,701 only. Overall, if we go through the analysis of each table so New York City Population raises more than other cities and after that other districts having rapid growth and in the last Manhattan City having a growth of population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response attempts to address the task but fails to accurately interpret the data. The student misidentifies the data points, such as claiming the 'highest growth of 76% in 1800', which is not supported by the provided tables. The summary is confusing, and the comparison between the total population and the individual districts is poorly executed. The response lacks a clear overview of the trends, instead listing disconnected figures that are often inaccurate. To improve, focus on identifying the most significant trends (e.g., the overall upward trajectory) and ensure that data points are transcribed correctly from the source material.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The use of cohesive devices is repetitive and often misused, such as 'Where other side we see' and 'In the Summary'. The progression of ideas is disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the different tables. The referencing is unclear, and the transition between the total population data and the district-specific data is abrupt. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of the writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'hike', 'table', and 'growth'. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as '1800 Century' (which is factually incorrect) and 'population raises' instead of 'population rises'. The student struggles to use precise terminology for describing data trends, such as 'expand to' or 'last to', which are not appropriate for statistical reporting. To reach a higher band, the student should learn and apply topic-specific vocabulary related to data analysis, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained constant', and 'proportion'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('The First Table illustrate', 'their is massive population hike'), article usage, and sentence structure. The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with errors in tense and word order. Punctuation is also inconsistent. To improve, the student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and that tenses are used consistently when describing historical data. Complex sentence structures are currently attempted but are largely inaccurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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