Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-29
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 table chart illustrates the changes in the population of a particular city between 1800 and 2000. The second and third table provide the information of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens Statin Island total overall people, during the similar year.
Analysing the table chart, in 1800 the population was grown 79,216 and it was increased steadily into the next year. Furthermore, in Manhattan in the initial year the number of individuals grown rapidly and which was 76% and in 1900 the percentage was declined steadily which was just over a half. In 2000 the large proportion of population decreased at 19%.
Moving towards the rest of information, in the five districts the majority of fo inhabitants was shown in 2000 accounted for 81% and it declined in the previous year in 1800 and 1900 which was 24% and 46% respectively.
Overall, it is evident that the majority of inhabitants grown in First year in Manhattan and other nations. Conversely, in Manhattan in the last year the least percentage of population grown.
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 summarizing the provided tables regarding New York City population data from 1800 to 2000. However, the interpretation and reporting of the data contain significant inaccuracies and confusion. For instance, the student states that 'in 1800 the population was grown 79,216', confusing the total population figure with a growth metric. Furthermore, the description of percentages for Manhattan and the other districts is muddled and fails to clearly synthesize the main trends, such as the dramatic shift in population share from Manhattan (76% in 1800 down to 19% in 2000) to the other districts. The overview is overly simplistic and vague, mentioning 'other nations' instead of other districts. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, leading to a score of 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The essay is organized into four paragraphs, following a standard structure for an Academic Task 1 response, and includes some basic cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Moving towards', and 'Overall'. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by confusing phrasing and poor referencing. For example, the transition between discussing the total population and specific districts lacks clarity, and the phrase 'the rest of information' is awkward. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion within sentences often breaks down, making it difficult to follow the writer's comparisons and relationships between data points. This level of organization and cohesive control aligns with a band 5.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and frequently inappropriate or inaccurate. Words are often misused in context, such as referring to districts as 'nations' in the conclusion ('Manhattan and other nations') and using 'grown' where 'grew' or 'stood at' is required. Other lexical errors include 'Statin Island' (spelling of Staten) and 'fo inhabitants' (typo for 'of inhabitants'). While the student attempts some less common vocabulary ('proportion', 'majority'), the high frequency of word-choice errors, grammatical infelicities, and spelling mistakes restricts the response to a band 5.0.
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 errors in tense usage and voice, such as 'the population was grown' and 'the percentage was declined steadily'. Punctuation is also problematic, particularly in run-on sentences like 'Furthermore, in Manhattan in the initial year the number of individuals grown rapidly and which was 76% and in 1900 the percentage was declined steadily which was just over a half.' These persistent errors in basic and complex structures frequently cause difficulty for the reader, placing the grammar performance firmly at band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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