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)
The first table illustrates the changes in the total population of New york city , while other two tables show the population of different five districts.
Overall, New york city accounted for increase in the population, while Manhatan city in population decrease after the years. In other districts, population increase over the period.
In 1800, New your city had 79,216 population. After that, it increased from 79,216 to 3,437,202 in 1900. In 2000, the population reached 8,009,185.
In Manhattan, 76% of population lived in 1800, while it increased 54% in 1900.
In 2000, Manhattan city has 19% decreased in population.
In other districts, population was 18,701 in 1800. It increased from 18,701 to 1,587,109 in 1900. After 1900, population accounted for 81% increased in 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response attempts to summarise the tables by outlining overall population changes and citing some specific data points. However, the length requirement has not been met, as the response contains only 125 words, falling short of the 150-word minimum. Content-wise, the overview is rather simplistic and inaccurate in places, such as claiming that 'Manhatan city in population decrease after the years' when the district data actually shows fluctuating proportions or differing trends depending on the timeframe. Furthermore, key comparisons between the five districts are omitted, and data is misinterpreted (for example, the figures for percentages in Manhattan and the other districts are confused). Due to the under-length penalty and incomplete coverage of the data, the score is limited to Band 4.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is organized into brief paragraphs, starting with an introduction and an overall statement, followed by body paragraphs detailing specific figures. However, the logical progression is weak due to disjointed sentences and unclear referencing. For instance, the transition 'After that' is overly simplistic, and the grouping of 'other districts' lacks clear logical separation. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes inaccurate, such as using 'while' contrastively without a clear opposing relationship. Paragraphing is attempted but remains basic because of the short response length. Overall, the organization shows some structure, but cohesion is mechanical and faulty, fitting the Band 5 descriptor.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, relying heavily on words like 'population', 'increase', 'change', and 'districts'. There are notable spelling and collocation errors, such as 'New york city' (capitalization issues), 'Manhatan' (misspelled), and phrasing like 'accounted for increase in the population' or '19% decreased in population'. The range of vocabulary is limited and minimally adequate for conveying very basic data, but it lacks the flexibility and precision needed for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items are absent, reflecting a Band 5 level for lexical resource.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'while other two tables show' (missing article 'the'), 'Manhatan city in population decrease' (awkward phrasing and missing verb), and '81% increased' (incorrect passive or tense usage). Punctuation errors are also present, such as spaces before commas. While basic sentence forms are generally understandable, errors are frequent and occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, placing the performance firmly in the Band 5 category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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