Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-02
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 beginning table illustrates changes in the total population of New York City between 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables give changes in the population of the five districts of the city Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the similar time.
Overall, it can be seen that the New York city has a highest population about 8,009,185 and second largest was other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) with growth of population 6,471,089. While, among all cities the lowest rises population was other districts about 18,701.
The tables show different percentages of total population while, the lowest percentage has Manhattan with about 19% and population 1,538,096. However, the second percentage is 24% but it has the low population about 18,701. The highest percentage of total population was 81% with 6,471,089 growth of people.
In conclusion, the rising population between five cities has separate population with different percentage of total population. So, there is difference in population and total percentage of 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 attempts to summarize the data but fails to accurately interpret the tables. The student confuses the historical population growth data with static figures, and the comparison between the districts is confusing and mathematically inaccurate based on the provided tables. For instance, the claim that 'other districts' had a growth of 6,471,089 is a misreading of the data. The overview is vague and does not clearly highlight the main trends, such as the significant population increase in NYC over the two centuries or the relative sizes of the districts. The response lacks a clear focus on the key features required for a Band 6 or higher.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and often misused, such as the awkward transition 'While, among all cities the lowest rises population was other districts'. Referencing is unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the five districts and the total population. The conclusion is repetitive and does not effectively summarize the information presented, merely stating that there is a difference in population without synthesizing the main trends.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms like 'changes', 'population', and 'number'. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and incorrect word choice, such as 'lowest rises population' and 'separate population'. The lack of precision in describing statistical data (e.g., 'the second percentage is 24% but it has the low population') indicates a limited range of vocabulary suitable for describing charts and tables. The student struggles to use appropriate terminology for data reporting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with article usage ('the New York city', 'the lowest rises population'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Many sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'The tables show different percentages of total population while, the lowest percentage has Manhattan with about 19%'. The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with errors in punctuation and word order. Complex structures are attempted but are generally inaccurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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