Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-27
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)
Three given tables describe the evaluation of total population in three daceads from [redacted phone], in the New York city. The first table shows the total population of five districts and second demonstrate Manhatttan. While third table nominated with Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island.
Overall, the huge rise illustrated in 2000 with 8,009,185 people followed by 3,437,202 in 1900. Moreover, a minute amount register in 1800 with 79,216 figures. The contribution of Manhattan district was reduced from 1800 to 2000 with 3/4 to 1/4, respectively.
In 1800, Manhattan district key a role with 76% of the total population. On the other hand, other districts take this title in 2000 with the contribution of 6,471,089 people. Manhattan and other districts are near to same proportion in 1900 with the amount of individuals 1,850,093 and 1,587,109, respectively. Manhattan district showed slight score with 1,538,096 in 2000; however, other districts got highest with 6,[redacted phone] population.
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 attempts to address the prompt by summarising the main trends across the tables provided. An overview is provided, noting the population growth and shifts in the proportion of inhabitants living in Manhattan versus other districts. However, the response contains several inaccuracies in reading the data. For instance, the text refers to 'three daceads from 1800-200' instead of centuries, and misinterprets the 1800 proportions as '3/4 to 1/4' when the table explicitly states 76% and 24%. Furthermore, there is a punctuation error in the final sentence ('6,471.089' instead of a comma). While the main features are highlighted, the imprecision in data reporting and minor misinterpretations prevent the response from achieving a higher band score, placing it firmly at Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The essay is organized into distinct paragraphs, featuring an introduction, an overview paragraph, and body details. However, the overall progression is somewhat disjointed due to awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions such as 'While third table nominated with' and 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices are occasionally used inaccurately, and referencing is not always clear (e.g., 'other districts take this title'). Paragraphing is present, but the internal logical flow between sentences is disrupted by grammatical errors and unnatural collocations. Consequently, the organization satisfies the requirements for Band 5.0, where an overall arrangement exists, but cohesion is frequently faulty.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The lexical range is limited and frequently strained by inappropriate word choices and spelling errors. Examples include 'daceads' for decades, 'demonstrate' used incorrectly for 'shows', 'minute amount register', and 'slight score'. The writer attempts less common vocabulary (e.g., 'contribution', 'proportion'), but these attempts are marred by inaccurate collocations and incorrect grammatical forms. While the meaning can generally be parsed with some effort, the frequency of lexical errors and restricted vocabulary control restrict the score to Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at more complex sentences are consistently flawed. Grammatical errors are frequent throughout the text, such as 'Three given tables describe the evaluation' (incorrect noun/verb choice), 'Other districts take this title in 2000 with the contribution of...' (awkward prepositional usage), and 'Manhattan district key a role' (verb/noun confusion). Punctuation errors are also present, such as the decimal point used instead of a comma in '6,471.089'. These persistent errors cause noticeable difficulty for the reader and reflect a Band 5.0 level of grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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