Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-27
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)
Three table is given that illustrates the total population of New YORK CITY from 1800 to 2000.But second and third tables show changes in the population of the five districts of the city.
Firstly, according to the first table in 1800, NEW YORK CITY had a population approximately 79,216 this was a huge population according to year. However, In 1900 population of NEW YORK was 3437,202 it was also a very big amount of peoples. Furthermore, In 2000 population of NEW YORK was 8,009,185. It was also enormous population of NEW YORK CITY.
Secondly, In second and third tables different districts of NEW YORK CITY also change population according to years. Firstly, MANHATTAN district of NEW YORK CITY had increased the population in 1800,1900,and 2000. In 1800 population of this district had increased about 76%, it was 60,515 in numbers .In 1900, it had been increase approximately 54% and number it was 1850,93. However, In 2000 population of this district had been increase about 19% it was in number 1538,096.
In third table, population of different districts was change according to years. Four districts of NEW YORK CITY was BROOKLYNE,BRONX,QUEENS and STATEN ISLAND. These four districts had increased population according to years. It had been changed 24%,46% and 81% so on. It was in number 18,701,1,587,109 and 6,471,089 so on.
Hence, trend tells us population are increasing according to years NEW YORK CITY.
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 cover the data provided, but it fails to effectively select and report the main features. The analysis is fragmented and lacks a clear overview of the trends. For instance, the student lists numbers without effectively comparing the growth across the different districts or identifying the most significant changes. The interpretation of the data is also inaccurate in several places, such as the claim that Manhattan's population increased by 76% in 1800, which is not supported by the provided tables. The response lacks a cohesive summary of the overall population growth trends, focusing instead on isolated, often miscalculated, data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. While transition words like 'Firstly', 'However', and 'Furthermore' are used, they are often placed incorrectly or used to connect unrelated ideas. The referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the tables. For example, the transition 'In third table, population of different districts was change' is abrupt and lacks a clear link to the previous paragraph. The overall structure feels mechanical rather than flowing, and the lack of clear thematic grouping of the data hinders the reader's understanding.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on basic phrasing such as 'huge population', 'big amount of peoples', and 'in number'. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'it was in number 1538,096' and 'population of different districts was change'. The student struggles to use precise terminology to describe statistical trends, often resorting to vague descriptors. The spelling of 'BROOKLYNE' is incorrect, and the overall range of vocabulary is insufficient to convey the information with the necessary precision required for an Academic Task 1 response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('Three table is given', 'population are increasing'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'In 1800 population of this district had increased about 76%, it was 60,515 in numbers'. The use of complex structures is limited and often results in errors, such as the incorrect use of past perfect tenses ('it had been increase'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement and decimal/comma usage in numbers.
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