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 table compare the changes in the total population of New York from 1800 to 2000. And the last tow tables illustrate the changes in the population of other districts over the same period.
Overall, it is evident that there were some noticeable difference among the categories, with some categories recording significant higher figures than others.
In the New York city, the population was increasing. in 1800, the total population was 79,216 and 1 century later the citizens were increasing with 3,437,202 people. In 2002, almost 8,009,185 residents in the New York city.
On the other hand, in 2000 as percentage every districts increased their population except Manhattan. In 1800 and 1900 the total population was 60,515 and 1,850,093. However, in 2000 the total amount of resident people decreased to 1,538,096. Moreover, in the other districts the total percentage was same as New York city in 1800 was 24% , in 1900 was 46% and in 2000 the percentage of citizens slightly increased and it was 81%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main trends, but the analysis is inconsistent and contains factual errors. For example, you state the population in 2002, but the data provided only goes up to 2000. Additionally, the interpretation of the percentage data is confusing and inaccurate, as the figures provided do not clearly support the claim that the percentage of citizens 'slightly increased' to 81%. While you identify the general upward trend for New York City and the decline in Manhattan, the lack of precision in reporting data points and the misinterpretation of the tables prevent a higher score. To improve, ensure you accurately transcribe figures and focus on clear, comparative statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression is hindered by unclear referencing and awkward transitions. For instance, the phrase 'in the other districts the total percentage was same as New York city' is confusing and lacks a clear link to the preceding information. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often mechanical or misused, such as the abrupt transition 'On the other hand' which does not logically contrast with the previous paragraph. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each sentence follows logically from the last will significantly enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use basic terms like 'increasing' and 'total population'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'the citizens were increasing with 3,437,202 people' and 'total amount of resident people'. These errors occasionally make the meaning slightly opaque. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'surged', 'plummeted', or 'proportion', and ensure that your word choices are contextually appropriate for an academic report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There is a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You make frequent errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The table compare') and preposition usage (e.g., 'in 2000 as percentage every districts'). Punctuation is also problematic, with inconsistent capitalisation and missing commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these grammatical slips is high. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement and pluralisation will help you achieve more error-free sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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