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)
The first table illustrates the variation in the whole population of New York City between the years 1800 and 2000, whereas the second and third tables demonstrate the shifts in the population of the five districts of the city, namely (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island)in the corresponding period.
Population in New York City as a whole can be seen in the first table, which indicates a rapid growth of the population of the capital city of America, from 79,216 to 8,009,185 between the years 1800 and 2000. It also mentions that the population in 1900 was 3,437,202, which is also a sign of a significant rise in population.
The other two tables illustrate the percentage difference in population between the districts; the first table shows about Manhattan. A significant decrease in the percentage of the population is observed, with a rapid increase in the population over the years.
Whereas, the other districts illustrate the percentage difference in population between the districts; the first table shows the other districts. A significant increase in the percentage of the population is observed, with a rapid decrease in the population seen, unlike Manhattan.
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 fails to adequately report the data provided in the tables. While you mention the total population growth, you do not provide a clear overview of the trends for the individual districts. The description of the second and third tables is vague and inaccurate; you state there is a 'significant decrease' in Manhattan's percentage, but you do not provide the specific figures (e.g., 60% in 1800 to 18% in 2000) required to support this. Furthermore, you incorrectly label New York City as the 'capital city of America', which is factually incorrect. To improve, you must select key data points and make direct comparisons between the districts rather than making general, unsupported statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between the general population data and the district data is abrupt. You use some cohesive devices like 'whereas' and 'it also mentions', but the referencing is often confusing. For instance, in the final paragraph, you refer to 'the first table' when discussing the other districts, which creates confusion as the first table only shows the total population. The structure lacks a clear overview or summary of the main trends, making the flow of information disjointed and difficult to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use basic phrases such as 'the first table illustrates' and 'significant increase/decrease'. There is a lack of precise terminology to describe statistical trends (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'peaked', 'remained stable', 'accounted for'). Additionally, the word choice is sometimes inaccurate, such as referring to the districts as 'the other two tables' when describing the data within them. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate a wider range of vocabulary related to data analysis and avoid repeating the same sentence structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, the phrase 'the first table shows about Manhattan' is grammatically incorrect. There are also issues with punctuation and sentence fragments, such as the list of districts in parentheses. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the writing from reaching a higher level of accuracy. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your sentences are complete and correctly punctuated.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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