Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11

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 assigned tabular charts illustrate the data of population in New York and five diffrent districts between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, it is evident that the number of population of New York was increased rapidly and the population of Manhattan was fluctuated throughout the period.

As per the chart, the population of New York was 79,216 in 1800 then it grew dramatically to 3,437,202 in 1900. Similarly, the figure of population reached to 8,009,185 in 1900. Whereas, the count of population of Manhattan was 76% from total population and 60,515 in 1800 which rose to 1,850,096 and 54% in 1900. Despite having an increament the number of population in Manhattan was fell gradually to 1,538,096 and 19% in 2000.

Furthermore, the figure of population in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten island was climbed rapidly from 1800 to 2000. The number of population was 18,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified some main features, the report is incomplete, ending abruptly in the middle of a sentence. You have attempted to compare the total population with the districts, but the analysis is cut short, leaving the reader without a full summary of the data provided in the tables. To improve, ensure you complete your analysis of all key trends and provide a comprehensive overview that covers the entire period for all categories mentioned in the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the abrupt ending severely disrupts the flow and logical progression of the response. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'Whereas' are used, but their effectiveness is limited by the incomplete nature of the sentences and the lack of a concluding summary. To achieve a higher band, you must ensure that your ideas are fully developed and that the transition between paragraphs and sentences is smooth and complete, rather than stopping mid-thought.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but there are several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'diffrent' instead of 'different' and 'increament' instead of 'increment'. You rely on basic verbs like 'climbed' and 'grew' to describe trends. To improve, try to incorporate a wider range of precise vocabulary related to data description, such as 'surged', 'plummeted', or 'remained stable'. Additionally, ensure you proofread your work to avoid simple spelling mistakes that detract from the professional tone of your report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that impede clarity. For example, 'the number of population of New York was increased' is incorrect; it should be 'the population of New York increased'. Similarly, 'Manhattan was fluctuated' should be 'Manhattan's population fluctuated'. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and awkward phrasing throughout. While you attempt to use complex structures, the frequent errors in basic sentence construction and the incomplete final sentence limit your score. Focus on mastering simple, error-free sentences before attempting more complex grammatical structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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