Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-28
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 demonstrates the population of New York city and remaining two exhibit the modifications occured during the the time from 1800 to 2000 in Manhattan city and other district respectively.
Overall, the population increased significantly over the time period in all the tables with poroportion also surged dramatically except percentage declined in Manhattan percentage of total population in year 2000 which was only 19%.
If we look at year 2000 the population surged overall and also in Manhattan and other five districts, however, total population percentage declined upto 19% only. Additionally, it in the year 1900 the population of New York city was 3,437,202 and average proportion also climbed to 54% and 46% for Manhattan and all other five districts.
In the year 1800 the total population was 79,216 individuals which reduced marginally in Manhattan with 60,515 people with 76% of overall, while figure dwindled for all districts with just 18,701 people having a seconed minimal proportion just 24%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the visual data, including overall population trends and specific figures for Manhattan and other districts across the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. An overview is present, highlighting the general growth in population alongside the shift in proportional distribution. However, the expression of ideas is sometimes confused and imprecise, particularly regarding the percentages and comparisons in the body paragraphs (e.g., stating 'total population percentage declined upto 19% only' when referring to Manhattan's proportion). While key features are reported, the lack of clarity in how data is described prevents it from reaching a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The text is organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs, providing a basic structural framework. However, progression is disrupted by awkward phrasing and confusing logical links, such as 'If we look at year 2000... however, total population percentage declined'. Cohesive devices are used mechanically and sometimes incorrectly, leading to confusion about which data points are being contrasted. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion within sentences often breaks down, making the response difficult to follow smoothly.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student attempts some less common vocabulary such as 'significantly', 'dramatically', 'proportion', and 'marginal', but word choice and collocation are frequently inaccurate or unnatural (e.g., 'modifications occured', 'poroportion also surged', 'figure dwindled for all districts with just 18,701 people having a seconed minimal proportion'). There are also spelling errors like 'poroportion' and 'seconed'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey a general meaning, but noticeable errors and imprecise word choices limit the lexical score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but attempts at complex forms often result in clumsy or ungrammatical phrasing (e.g., 'Additionally, it in the year 1900 the population of New York city was...'). There are frequent errors in preposition use, article omission, and clause structure that require the reader to slow down. While meaning is usually retrievable, the high frequency of grammatical and punctuation slips keeps the score at this level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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