Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-04
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 graph tells the changing happening to New York city's all five districts from the year 1800 to 2000, second and third graph shows the districts changing.
Overall New York's population is significantly increased, and downfall trend can be observed in Manhattan, while other districts showed an increase in total part of population.
New York is one the most populated city in whole world, but started around 80,000, a grammatical change is observed in 1900s and in 2000s, it showed almost same result. Manhatton total population was almost 75 percent of New York in 1800s, population change is increased exponentially in 1900, but it overall gradually decreases in total population.
Other districts have major role for New York's population incresing to al
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 fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. Furthermore, the response is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence. While the student attempts to identify the main trends, the analysis is superficial and lacks the necessary detail to fully report on the data provided in the three tables. Key information, such as specific population figures or clear comparisons between the five districts, is largely missing or inaccurately described. The overview is present but lacks the depth required for a higher band. To improve, ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed and provide a complete, well-developed summary that reaches the required length.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is poorly structured. There is no clear paragraphing, and the flow of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is minimal and often mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'the first graph' and 'second and third graph'. The lack of a logical progression makes it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of the data. The abrupt ending further disrupts the coherence of the text. To improve, use clear paragraph breaks to separate the overview from the detailed analysis and employ a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'in contrast', 'furthermore', 'consequently') to connect ideas more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'changing happening' instead of 'changes occurring' and 'downfall trend' instead of 'downward trend'. The student also struggles with basic terminology related to data description, using 'grammatical change' when referring to population statistics, which is incorrect. Spelling errors, such as 'incresing' and 'Manhatton', are also present. To reach a higher band, the student needs to use more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends and avoid basic errors in word formation and spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('second and third graph shows'), article usage ('one the most populated city'), and sentence structure. The range of grammatical structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with errors in tense and word order. The incomplete sentence at the end of the text is a significant issue. To improve, the student should focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring correct subject-verb agreement, and practicing the use of complex structures to describe trends accurately.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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