Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-07
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 graphical representations illustrate the information related to the variations in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The other tables depicts changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, the population of new york increased dramatically from 1800 to 2000. Moreover, percentage of inhabitants in manhattan kept on decreasing but number of people increased till 1900 and it decreased in 2000. In other districts population increased rapidly and percentage of masses living there also increased.
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 ability to fully address the task. While you have attempted to identify the main features, the analysis is extremely brief and lacks the necessary detail required for an Academic Task 1 response. You have not provided specific data points or meaningful comparisons between the districts or across the time periods. To improve, you must expand your description by selecting key data points from the tables and providing a more comprehensive overview of the trends observed in each district.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into two short paragraphs, which is a basic structure. However, the lack of length prevents the development of a logical progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are minimal, and the connection between the introduction and the overview is somewhat mechanical. To achieve a higher score, you need to use a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, allowing for a more sophisticated flow of information throughout the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'increased dramatically' and 'increased rapidly' are standard but lack variety. There are also issues with capitalization, such as 'new york' and 'manhattan', which should always be capitalized. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. You should aim to incorporate more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'remained stable', to enhance the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'The other tables depicts' should be 'depict') and missing articles (e.g., 'percentage of inhabitants'). The sentence structures are simple and lack the complexity needed for a higher band. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors and the lack of complex structures limit the score. Focus on proofreading your work to correct basic errors and practice combining simple sentences into more complex, compound-complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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