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)
There are three different tables were given where each table explains different data regarding population. Table one is describing the information about the population in all five districts of the New York city between 1800 to 2000. In addition table two and three shows the data about the alteration in population in the five districts.
Overall, population is increasing with passage of time in all different districts of the New York city, while in the Manhattan city the ratio of population is decreasing with time. Moreover, in the Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten island the population of people were expended in the given period.
In 1800, the population rate was about 79,216 in all five regions of New York city, after that the population growth was increased till 2000, which was 8,009,185 respectively.
In the Manhattan, the highest demographic expansion was recorded in 1900, that is 54% of total population. Other then this, in all other districts the population growth was expanding from 1800 to 2000, which is below 19 thousand in start then it increased to nearly 65 million in 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 data but fails to accurately report the main features. There are significant factual errors, such as the claim that the population in Manhattan is decreasing, which contradicts the provided data. Furthermore, the statement that the population increased to '65 million' is a major inaccuracy, as the total population reached approximately 8 million. The report lacks a clear selection of key trends and fails to make meaningful comparisons between the districts. The overview is vague and contains incorrect information, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is hindered by the inaccurate data reporting. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In addition', 'Overall', and 'Moreover', but they are sometimes used mechanically or inappropriately. For instance, the transition 'Other then this' is grammatically incorrect and does not effectively link the ideas. While the paragraphing is sufficient, the internal flow of information is weakened by the lack of clarity and the factual inconsistencies presented in the body paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student uses basic terms like 'increasing', 'decreasing', and 'data'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'ratio of population' instead of 'population proportion' or 'demographic expansion'. The phrase 'expended in the given period' is an incorrect use of the word 'expended' (likely meant 'expanded'). These errors, combined with the factual inaccuracies, suggest a limited range of vocabulary that is not always used with precision or appropriateness for an academic report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'There are three different tables were given', which is a run-on structure, and 'the population of people were expended', which shows subject-verb agreement errors. The use of articles is inconsistent, such as 'in the Manhattan city'. While there is an attempt to use complex sentences, they are often faulty or contain structural errors. The majority of the sentences are simple, and the frequent errors in basic grammar and punctuation prevent the response from achieving a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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