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 presented table data depict the information of total citizens of the New York city between 1800 to 2000. However, second and third table data illustrates the variations under the five districts of the cities such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island in the same period of time. The data are given as numbers as well as percentages.

Overall, it can be seen that in the New York city the highest number of population held during the year the year 2000. While in the same year Manhattan accounted by the lowest number of population and in 1800 other districts held the least proportion of the population.

To begin with, in 1800 total number of population of New York city approximately 79,216. The figure gradually increased around 3,437,202 during the year 1900. Moreover, it marginally went up in 2000 at 8,009,185.

Moving to the rest of the information, the Manhattan city held the maximum number of proportion of the population around 60,515. it was 76% in 1800.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to address the task adequately. While it introduces the topic, it only covers the total population and the beginning of the data for Manhattan. It completely ignores the remaining four districts and fails to provide a comprehensive summary of the trends over the 200-year period. The data selection is highly selective and incomplete, missing the majority of the information presented in the tables. To improve, you must ensure that all key features—such as the growth patterns of all five districts and significant comparative points—are included in your summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the progression of ideas is weak because the information is not fully developed. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with' and 'Moving to the rest of the information', but they feel somewhat mechanical. The lack of data coverage makes the overall flow feel disjointed, as the reader is left waiting for the analysis of the other districts that were promised in the introduction but never discussed.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'total number of population' and 'held the maximum number of proportion' are awkward and imprecise. There is an attempt to use some academic vocabulary, but the word choices often lack precision, such as using 'citizens' when 'population' would be more accurate for demographic data. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more varied and precise terminology related to data description, such as 'figures', 'demographics', 'proportion', and 'fluctuations'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'the highest number of population held during the year' is grammatically incorrect, and 'Manhattan accounted by the lowest' should be 'accounted for'. There is a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. Frequent errors in prepositions and verb forms (e.g., 'in 1800 total number of population... approximately 79,216' missing a verb) suggest a need for more careful proofreading and a stronger grasp of basic sentence construction.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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