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 data first table in the gives the information about changes in the overall population of New York city from 1800 to 2000. Whereas, the other two tables show the fluctuation in the population of the five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) of New York over the similar period.
Overall, the population of New York consistently increased from 79,216 to 8,009,185 over the period of 1800 to 2000. The percent increase in the population only in Manhattan was 54% in 1900 which was then reduced to 19% in 2000.
The total number of residents in all four districts collectively was lesser then the number of residents in Manhattan only which was 18,701 in 1800. In 1900 this number was elevated to 1587,109 (46%) which was significantly rose to [redacted phone] (81%) in 2000.
The reason behind this increase was may be because Manhattan became overcrowded over the given period of time and people prefer to move to other districts for better facilities.
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 attempts to summarize the data but fails to accurately report the main features. The interpretation of the tables is flawed; for instance, the claim that the total population of four districts was less than Manhattan in 1800 is not supported by the provided data. Furthermore, the analysis of percentages is confusing and mathematically inaccurate based on the source tables. The final paragraph introduces personal speculation ('The reason behind this increase was may be...') which is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. To improve, focus on identifying clear trends and comparing figures accurately without adding external opinions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is hindered by inaccurate data reporting and confusing transitions. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Whereas' and 'In 1900', but they are sometimes used incorrectly or to connect ideas that do not logically follow one another. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to determine which data points are being discussed. Improving the logical flow between sentences and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, accurate focus would enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'The data first table in the gives', which indicates a lack of control. While some topic-specific vocabulary is used (e.g., 'fluctuation', 'collectively'), the misuse of terms like 'elevated' and 'significantly rose' (which should be 'rose significantly') limits the score. To achieve a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring that vocabulary is used accurately to describe trends and changes in data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'The data first table in the gives', 'lesser then' (should be 'less than'), and 'was may be'. Punctuation and word order issues are also present, such as '1587,109' and '6471089'. While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors are frequent and occasionally impede the flow of the text. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct comparative structures, and proofreading for basic syntax errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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