Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-31
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 given tables depicts the data about the population five districts of New York City in the years 1800,1900 and 2000.
Overall, intially, in 1800 the population of NYC was 79,216, and it surged to 8,009,185 in 2000. Similarly, in 1800 Manhattan holds more than 50% share of whole population, but over the period it declined and became diversed.
In 1800 the population was at 79,216. And in the same period the Manhattan hold 76% of whole population. While remaining lives in other four districts but over the period it continue declining. In 1900, the population spiked over 3 million, in contrast to this the population decline to 54% as a whole. Similarly, in 2000 it dramaticaly decline to mere 19%.
In other four districts those are Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.In the year 1800 these four districts holds 24% of total population.In the year 1900 it surged to above 1.5 million peoples.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the overall population growth and the shift in Manhattan's population share. However, the analysis is incomplete. The report fails to provide a comprehensive overview of the other four districts, mentioning them only briefly and omitting the 2000 data for those specific areas. The information is presented in a somewhat disjointed manner, and the lack of detail regarding the final year for the individual districts prevents a full comparison. To improve, ensure all data points mentioned in the prompt are addressed and compared systematically.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'Similarly' and 'In the year 1800'. Some sentences are fragmented, and the transition between the general population data and the district-specific data is abrupt. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the 'other four districts'. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear focus would significantly enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'diversed' instead of 'diversified' and 'peoples' instead of 'people'. The student relies on basic descriptors like 'surged', 'spiked', and 'decline' without much variation. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of precision and the presence of errors in word formation (e.g., 'dramaticaly') limit the score. Expanding the range of vocabulary to include more academic collocations and ensuring correct word forms is essential for a higher band.
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., 'tables depicts', 'Manhattan hold', 'districts holds') and tense consistency. The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences, and those that are attempted often contain errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods. To reach a higher band, the student needs to focus on basic grammatical accuracy, particularly verb forms and sentence construction, before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.