Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-03
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 Graph shows the change in the total population of New York city from 1800 to 2000. In 1800 the total population of five districts of New York city is 79,216,then in 1900 the population grew rapdily, In 2000 the population calculated is 8,009,185 people. If we see the percantage of total population in Manhattan.The population in Manhattan in 1800 surpass all the other district with 76% of total numbers. but compare to other four district Manhattan population decrease to19%.But Manhantan still have more number of people throughout the year if we compare it with one district at time.Because mantantan population increase from 1800 with 60,515 members to 2000 with1,538,096 people. If we saw other four districts booklyn,bronx,queens and Staten Island, the population gradually increases from 24% in 1800 to 81% in 2000. In 1800 population went from 18,701 to 6,471,089 in 2000.The graph shows that people choose Mnahantan district more compare to others.
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, such as the overall population growth and the shift in proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The student identifies key figures but struggles to synthesize the data effectively. For instance, the claim that Manhattan 'surpass all the other district' is a bit confusingly phrased, and the comparison between the districts could be more precise. The response lacks a clear overview paragraph, which is essential for a Band 6 or higher in Academic Task 1. While the main features are identified, the lack of a structured summary and some inaccuracies in data interpretation limit the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks paragraphing, which makes it difficult to follow the logical progression of ideas. The sentences are often linked in a mechanical or repetitive way, such as the frequent use of 'In 1800' or 'The graph shows'. Cohesive devices are either missing or used incorrectly, such as the abrupt transition 'But compare to other four district'. The lack of clear paragraph breaks between the introduction, the body, and the overview hinders the flow of information. To improve, the student should group related data points into distinct paragraphs and use a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms like 'change', 'increase', and 'number of people'. There are also several spelling errors, such as 'rapdily', 'percantage', 'Manhantan', and 'booklyn'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of precision and the recurring spelling mistakes prevent a higher score. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more varied vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'accounted for', 'proportion', and 'dramatically', while ensuring correct spelling and accurate word choice.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the total population... is 79,216'), incorrect tense usage (e.g., 'the population calculated is'), and missing articles or prepositions. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and missing spaces after periods. While the errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be distracting. The student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and consistent tense usage to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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