Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-28
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 above, illustrating the significant population growth in New York city, Along with elaborating the demographics of all five districts of the city separately over the years of 1800 to 2000.
First table describes a dominant raise in population of New York in one year from thousands to millions, and in right next year the population increased to more than eight million.
The next two tables includes percentage average which makes it more comprehensible and more understandable. The second table demonstrates that, the main proportion of population rose were held in Manhattan, which is one of the City's district. In contrast to other districts Manhattan population has been raised considerably higher continuously of 76% and 54% in 1800 and 1900. Following that, in the year of 2000 the other districts experienced a sharp rise of 81%, on the other hand a noticeable declined in the percentage can be seen in Manhattan.
Overall, the population demographics has been fluctuated in all the districts of New York City between 1800 to 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to summarise the data but fails to accurately report the main features. The description of the population growth is vague, and the interpretation of the percentage data is factually incorrect based on the provided tables. For instance, stating that Manhattan had 76% and 54% of the population in 1800 and 1900 is not supported by the data, which shows Manhattan's share declining as other districts grew. The response lacks a clear overview of the trends, and the data selection is insufficient to provide a comprehensive summary of the changes over the two-century period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as 'in right next year' and 'Following that', which do not effectively link the ideas. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the districts. While there is an attempt at an overall summary at the end, the connection between the paragraphs is disjointed, and the flow of information is frequently interrupted by awkward phrasing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and often used inaccurately. Phrases like 'dominant raise' and 'noticeable declined' demonstrate a lack of control over word forms and collocations. The student relies on basic vocabulary and struggles to express the data precisely. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'comprehensible and more understandable', which is redundant. To improve, the student needs to focus on using more precise academic vocabulary related to trends and statistics, such as 'significant increase', 'proportion', or 'dramatic shift'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('population demographics has been fluctuated'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence structures. The attempt at complex sentences often results in errors, such as the opening sentence which is a fragment. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally discernible, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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