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)
The first table illustrates the population changes in New York City in a specific duration from 1800 to 2000, followed by second and thiird table depicts population of five different zones of the city.
Overall, New York population rise throughout the two decades while, other districts like Manhattan, Brooklyn, bronx, Queens and Staten island population increase ans decrease from 1800 to 2000.
In 1800, population of all five districts is about 79 thousand and exceeds upto 8 million after two decades in 2000. Manhattan population is 76% of total population around 60 thousand in 1800, after rising upto 18 million in 1900, has fell down to 15 million in 2000.
However, other four different areas of city Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten island population is 18 thousand in 1800 that is 24% of the total population, abruptly rise upto 15 million after one decade and reached upto 64 million in 2000 which is 81% of the total population.
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 accurately report the data provided in the tables. There are significant factual errors, such as claiming the population reached 18 million or 64 million, which are not supported by the source text. The summary of the main features is inaccurate, and the comparison between the districts is confusing and mathematically incorrect. While the response attempts to cover all parts of the task, the lack of accuracy in reporting the figures means the information is not clearly presented or supported. To improve, ensure that data is transcribed correctly and that comparisons are based on the actual trends shown in the tables rather than invented figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by the inaccurate data and confusing sentence structures. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However' and 'Overall', but they do not always connect ideas logically because the underlying information is flawed. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between the general overview and the specific details is disjointed. To improve, focus on grouping related information together—for example, discussing the total population first, followed by a clear comparison of the specific districts—and ensure that each sentence follows logically from the previous one.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several spelling errors, such as 'thiird', 'ans', and 'bronx' (which should be capitalized). The word choice is often imprecise, such as using 'duration' when referring to a time period or 'zones' instead of 'districts'. The vocabulary used is sufficient for basic communication but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score. To improve, work on using more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' and ensure that technical terms related to data reporting are used correctly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'New York population rise', 'population of all five districts is'), incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'has fell down'), and missing articles. The sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization of proper nouns. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that verb tenses are used consistently when describing historical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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