Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-14
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 illustration give information about the total citizens of the New York City during 1800 to 2000. Futhermore, tables gives information about the changes in growth of different part of the city during same year.
It is quite evident from the table that the total population of the New York City of given year was different. In the year of 1800 the citizen of this country was 79216 and the ratio of this population was significantly raised in the year of 1900 and reached [redacted phone]. After this year the growth was not stop and at the end of 2000 year the population was [redacted phone]. Furthermore, in the year of 1800 the population of the Manhattan was 60515 which was the 76 percent of the overall population of this country but in the coming year the growth was increased only in population of this city and the overall percentage was decreased. This same situation also held in the year of 2000.
However, this also give information about the other districts like Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island. In the year of 1800 the population of this districts contributed the 24 percent of overall population. In the year of 1900 the growth was also increased and the percentage of overall also increased. This same condition also held in the year of 2000.
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 student covers the main parts of the task by reporting the overall population trends of New York City and referring to the five districts. However, the response lacks sufficient detail and data comparison. For instance, while the writer mentions the total population in 1800, 1900, and 2000, specific figures for individual districts (other than Manhattan in 1800) are omitted in favor of vague statements like 'the growth was also increased.' Key features such as the relative sizes of Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island are not adequately highlighted. The overview is somewhat weak, as it only summarises that populations changed rather than pointing out the overarching trajectories. This performance corresponds best to Band 5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into four paragraphs, providing a basic structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion. However, the progression of ideas is often unclear and repetitive, particularly in the final paragraph where general statements replace precise data. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or repetitively, such as the repeated phrases 'This same situation' and 'Furthermore.' Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of information lacks logical flow, moving back and forth without a clear structural plan. These limitations place the response firmly in the Band 5 category for Coherence and Cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive, with frequent misuse of terms such as 'citizens of the New York City' instead of residents, and calling New York a 'country.' There are also noticeable lexical errors like 'growth was not stop' and 'ratio of this population.' While the writer attempts some less common terms like 'significantly raised' and 'percentage,' the range is limited and inadequate for a precise discussion of statistical data. Spelling is mostly accurate, but word choice and collocation errors cause some difficulty for the reader, fitting the Band 5 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex structures often contain noticeable errors, such as 'which was the 76 percent of the overall population of this country but in the coming year the growth was increased only in population of this city and the overall percentage was decreased.' There are frequent errors in verb tense consistency, subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'tables gives'), and prepositions (e.g., 'population of the New York City of given year'). While the meaning is generally decipherable, the frequency of errors restricts the score to Band 5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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