Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-01
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 table illustrates the changes in the total population of city from 1800 to 2000. The second and third table demonstrates the demographic swift of five districts of , Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the same period.
However the population of New York is significantly increased from 1800 to 2000. In 1900 Manhattan
proportion of population is significantly increased but in 2000 the increasing percent is slightly dropped.
On the other five districts the population is rocketed from twenty four percent to forty six percent in 1900 and the ratio of proportion was comparatively high in 2000. In 2000 the percentage was increased from forty six to eighty one percent. Overall the population of New York and all five districts is increased over the time.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have attempted to identify some trends, the analysis is superficial and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the task. You have omitted key data points and failed to provide a clear, comprehensive overview of the population changes across the two centuries. The description of the data is often vague, and the lack of sufficient length prevents a full development of the main features. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed breakdown of the figures and include a clear, distinct overview paragraph that highlights the most significant trends observed in the tables.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a clear structure, with only two very short paragraphs. The progression of ideas is disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the different time periods and districts. Cohesive devices are used sparingly and sometimes incorrectly, such as the abrupt transition 'However' at the start of the second paragraph, which does not logically connect to the preceding sentence. The paragraphing is insufficient, and the lack of clear signposting between the total population data and the district-specific data hinders the overall flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'increased' and 'proportion' throughout the text. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'demographic swift' (likely meaning 'shift') and 'the population is rocketed', which is grammatically incorrect. The use of 'increasing percent is slightly dropped' is also imprecise. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to use a wider variety of verbs and nouns to describe trends, such as 'surged', 'fluctuated', or 'a significant rise', and ensure that your terminology is used accurately in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with article usage (e.g., 'The second and third table'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. For example, 'On the other five districts the population is rocketed' is syntactically awkward. The range of structures is quite narrow, consisting mostly of simple sentences. To improve, you need to work on using a mix of complex sentence structures and ensuring basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with verb tenses and prepositions. Proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect verb forms would be highly beneficial.
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.