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 both table illustrate the total number of population of new York city and others cities change from 1800 to 2000.
overall, all cities have show highest population during the all year. new york city has approximately highest population during last years while Manhattan have lowest population over the all years. the table despite Manhattan and other district has show population in percentages.
New York has more population in the year 2000 around 8,009,185. followed by in 1900 at 3,437,202 while less population in 1800.
Manhattan and other districts Brooklyn ,Bronx ,Queens , Staten Island have show population in number and percentages. other districts have significantly more percentage of people in year 2000 at 81% . in Manhattan have 19% in same years. 76% population in 1800 and 54% population in 1900 in Manhattan city. 24% population in 1800 in others cities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have attempted to identify some main features, the summary is incomplete and lacks a clear, accurate overview of the data trends. You have struggled to accurately interpret the tables, particularly the distinction between Manhattan and the 'other districts'. The data points cited are sometimes confusing or incorrectly transcribed from the tables. To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary of the overall trends (e.g., the significant growth of NYC) and select key data points to support your descriptions rather than listing isolated figures without context.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a logical flow. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the progression of ideas is disjointed. Cohesive devices are either missing or used incorrectly, such as the repetitive use of 'in the year' and 'population in'. The referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow which data belongs to which category. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, such as one for the total population and one for the district comparisons.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'population', 'number', and 'cities'. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'the both table' instead of 'both tables' and 'have show' instead of 'showed'. The lack of variety in your language makes the report feel simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data reporting, such as 'fluctuated', 'experienced a significant increase', 'accounted for', and 'proportion'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Manhattan have lowest'), incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'have show'), and missing articles. The sentence structures are mostly simple and lack the complexity required for higher bands. There are also significant punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after commas and inconsistent capitalization of proper nouns like 'New York'. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring correct verb tenses for past data, and proofreading for basic punctuation and capitalization rules.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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