Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-10
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 illustrates the changes in the overall population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third demonstrate the changes in the population of five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the successive period.
Overall, the population was increased tremendously in the year 2000. Manhattan has a highest percentile of population in the year 1800 and chronologically decreased over the year but the population of other district was increased over the period of time.
While evaluating the population of New York City, The highest proportion was observed in the year of 2000 which is 8,[redacted phone] . The year 1900 secure second position and the population was 3,437,202 and minimal population was in the year 1800 covering 79,216.
Similarly, The highest percentile of population was observed in the year of 1800 occupying 76% of the total followed by year 1900 occupying 54% of total population and minimal percentage was in the year 2000 occupying 19 of total
For some instance, Highest population was observed in the year 2000 occupying 81% of total followed by the another year 1900 covering 46% of the total population and lowest percentage of people was observed in the year 1800 occupying 25% of the total.
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 data but fails to provide a clear, accurate overview. While it identifies the overall population growth, the analysis of the districts is confusing and contains significant inaccuracies. For instance, the claim that Manhattan had the 'highest percentile' in 1800 and then decreased is not clearly supported by the provided data, and the subsequent paragraphs contain contradictory or unclear statistical reporting (e.g., '19 of total'). The response lacks a coherent comparison between the five districts, failing to highlight the key trends such as the rapid growth of Brooklyn or the relative decline of Manhattan's share. The data reporting is inconsistent, making it difficult for the reader to follow the trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inappropriate, such as the repetitive use of 'the highest' and 'the total'. The transition between the general population and the specific district data is abrupt. Referencing is often unclear, particularly in the final paragraph where the data points are presented without sufficient context or clear links to the specific districts being discussed. The lack of clear signposting makes the relationship between the different tables difficult to discern.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'highest percentile of population' (when referring to a proportion or percentage) and 'over the successive period'. The phrasing 'secure second position' is slightly unnatural in this context. The student struggles to use precise terminology to describe statistical trends, relying on basic descriptors like 'increased tremendously' or 'minimal population'. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of variety and precision limits the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('population of other district was increased'), article usage ('the year of 2000'), and sentence structure. The use of passive voice is often clumsy, and there are errors in punctuation and number formatting (e.g., '8,009185'). While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often inaccurate or poorly constructed. The majority of sentences contain errors, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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