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 first table gives the data on the population number of the five districts in New York covering 19-21st century.
The population significant arised with in all three years. Where it multiplied 8 times more than it was ever in 1800.
The other two tables provides information on how much these changes contributed to the overall population in all five districts within the same span of time.
Manhattan had the highest contribution for the whole population of New york in 1800s. The population increased in numbers but as compared to total contribution considerably dropped to its lowest in 2000, which only covered 19% of the total number.
On the other hand, where all other five districts combined didn't accounted for more than 25% in 1800. But this amount overpassed the highest record of Manhattan in both population and contribution, in all three of the centuries ,and became the most populated districts.
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 attempts to summarise the provided data, but it fails to clearly identify and report the main features. The overview is vague, and the description of the data is inaccurate in places (e.g., stating the population 'multiplied 8 times' without clear reference to the specific figures). The analysis of the districts is confusing, particularly the claim that the other districts 'overpassed' Manhattan, which is not clearly supported by the provided tables. The response lacks a clear, data-driven summary of the trends, and the information is presented in a way that makes it difficult for the reader to follow the actual changes in population over the two centuries.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression of ideas is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the awkward transition 'On the other hand, where all other five districts combined didn't accounted for more than 25%'. Referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult to determine which data points are being compared. The structure lacks a clear flow, and the connection between the introductory summary and the body paragraphs is disjointed, which hinders the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and often used incorrectly. There are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'population significant arised' instead of 'population increased significantly' and 'overpassed' instead of 'surpassed'. The phrasing is often repetitive and lacks the precision required for an academic report. While the meaning is generally discernible, the lack of control over vocabulary and the frequent errors in word formation prevent the response from reaching a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with verb tense consistency, subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'didn't accounted'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are poorly constructed, such as 'The population significant arised with in all three years.' The use of complex structures is limited and often results in errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of commas and spaces. The frequency of these errors is high, indicating a lack of control over basic grammatical structures.
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