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)
This table demonstrates the variations in the number of population from the year 1800 to 2000 in New York . Along with this , the other two tables depicts the population of five other districts of the town during same time period . In general , the greatest proportion of individuals were in 2000 in New York .
To begin with , in New York , IN 1800,1900 and the number of people were 79,216 ,3,437,202 , 8, 009, 185 accordingly . Although, in Manhattan 's population showed considerable down fall in their percentage from 76 to 19 in 1800 to 2000 year .
By contrast , other four districts had 24 % of population in1800 year whereas , after a decade it was about 46 %. However , in 2000, there was a slightly increase by 34 % . Moreover , there was difference of 8% in Manhattan and other districts in 1900 .
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 address the task but fails to provide a clear or accurate summary of the data. While the total population figures are mentioned, the analysis of the district data is confusing and mathematically inaccurate. For instance, the claim that other districts had '24% of population in 1800' and '46% after a decade' is not supported by the provided tables. The response lacks a clear overview of the main trends, such as the consistent growth of the total population and the shifting distribution of residents across the five districts. The information is presented in a fragmented way, making it difficult for the reader to grasp the key features of the data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with' and 'By contrast', but they are often used incorrectly or in a way that does not reflect the relationship between the data points. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences is disjointed. The use of punctuation is also problematic, with unnecessary spaces before commas and periods, which disrupts the reading process. The overall structure is mechanical rather than fluid, hindering the clear communication of the information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'number of population' instead of 'total population' and 'considerable down fall in their percentage'. The student struggles with precise terminology to describe trends, relying on basic descriptors. Some word choices are inaccurate, such as 'after a decade' when referring to a century-long period. While the meaning is generally discernible, the lack of variety and the errors in collocation prevent the response from reaching a higher band 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, such as 'the other two tables depicts', and incorrect use of articles and prepositions. Sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors, such as 'in Manhattan 's population showed considerable down fall'. Punctuation is inconsistent, with erratic spacing around commas and numbers. These errors are frequent and demonstrate a lack of control over basic grammatical structures, which limits the overall quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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