Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-13
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)
Table one, illustrates changes in the overall population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. The other two tables demonstrate changes in the population of the five states of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, the number of population has risen dramatically for year 1800 to 2000. Manhattan, lead by the number of people in almost two decades. Conversely, other districts cover almost a quter and nearly a half of the population while having over than a third quater in the last decade.
The total percentage of population sharly climbed up. In 1800, Manhattan had exactly 60,515 comprising overall 76% of the total population. For year 1900, the total people count dramatically fell down to 54%, exactly at 1,850,093. Thereafter, declined steeply to 19% with1,538,096 people.
Other districts, on the other hand, increased quickly by 24% in 1800, 46% in 1900, 81% in 2000 having exactly 18,701, 1,587,109, and 6,471,089 over the same period.
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 by reporting on the overall population of New York City and the five districts between 1800 and 2000. However, the data interpretation is somewhat inaccurate and confused. For instance, the writer states that Manhattan 'lead by the number of people in almost two decades' and describes percentages and figures in a confusing manner, conflating total population numbers with district proportions. While some main features are presented, the selection of data is erratic and lacks clarity. The overview provided in the second paragraph is underdeveloped and fails to clearly summarize the overarching trends visible in the tables. Consequently, the performance aligns with Band 5, as the response addresses the task only partially and contains inaccuracies in reporting key data points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is divided into four paragraphs, showing an attempt at a conventional essay structure with an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted. The second paragraph attempts an overall summary but contains unclear statements ('number of population has risen dramatically for year 1800 to 2000'). Cohesive devices are used mechanically or inaccurately, such as 'Conversely' and 'Thereafter, declined steeply', which do not properly connect the contrasting ideas or chronological points. Paragraphing is present, but internal cohesion within sentences and paragraphs is faulty, leading to disjointed reading. This level of organization and cohesive control corresponds to a Band 5 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive, with noticeable errors in word choice and collocation. Examples include 'number of population', 'sharly climbed up', and 'people count'. While the student attempts some less common vocabulary ('dramatically', 'steeply'), these are often used inaccurately or paired with incorrect prepositions ('for year 1800'). Spelling is mostly accurate, but lexical control is limited, causing occasional difficulty for the reader in fully grasping the intended meaning. This vocabulary profile sits firmly within Band 5, featuring a limited but minimally adequate range with noticeable errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but attempts at complexity frequently result in grammatical errors. Examples of errors include awkward phrasing ('having exactly 18,701, 1,587,109, and 6,471,089 over the same period') and missing prepositions or incorrect verb forms ('with1,538,096 people', 'declined steeply to 19% with1,538,096 people'). Punctuation errors, such as missing spaces and comma splices, are also noticeable. While basic sentences are generally understandable, frequent errors in complex structures can cause difficulty for the reader. This performance matches the Band 5 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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