Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-01
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 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 such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the same period.
Overall, in the year 2000 population showed much rised in number than year 1800 in the New York City. while, in Manhattan and other districts reported highest percentage shift of total population in year of 1800 and 2000.
To begin with, in the New York City major democratic shift were seen in the 2000 by 8,009,185 total number of population. Beyond that, in year 1900 recorded a considerably higher figure than that for year 1800 at 3,437,202 with 79,216 in the first table.
Meanwhile, in the Manhattan and other district which included Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island reported as in year 1900 remained mostly stable with 54% and 46%. Moreover, in the year 1800 76% total change in population showed with number 60,515 and in 2000 year in other district with 81% surged in 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 response attempts to address the task by summarizing the provided tables, but it only partially covers the information. While you have included some figures, such as the total population in 1800 and 2000, your overview is somewhat unclear and fails to capture the main trends effectively, stating only that the population rose over time. Furthermore, your selection of details is occasionally confusing, as seen in the sentence trying to describe the percentage shifts in Manhattan and other districts. To reach a higher standard, the overview needs to clearly highlight the most significant overarching trends—such as the massive overall growth alongside the demographic shift from Manhattan to the other districts—and support these points with more accurate and comprehensive data selection.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response shows some organization, with a four-paragraph structure that attempts to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. However, there is no clear overall progression of ideas, making the report difficult to follow smoothly. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, such as starting sentences with 'Beyond that' or 'Moreover', which do not connect the data logically. Additionally, referencing is occasionally imprecise, leaving the reader unsure of which specific data points are being contrasted. To improve coherence, you should ensure that each paragraph builds logically on the previous one and that transitional phrases accurately reflect the relationship between the data points.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
Your vocabulary range is limited and minimally adequate for the task. You attempt some less common vocabulary, but this often leads to noticeable errors in word choice, form, and collocation, such as writing 'population showed much rised in number' instead of 'rose significantly in number' or 'major democratic shift' instead of 'demographic shift'. Other phrases, such as 'percentage shift', are awkward and indicate a lack of precision. While the meaning is generally decipherable, these lexical inaccuracies cause some difficulty for the reader. To achieve a higher band, you need to expand your range of vocabulary related to data trends and use words with greater precision and correct word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response demonstrates a limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside attempts at more complex ones that are frequently faulty. There are persistent errors in grammar, including incorrect verb forms ('population showed much rised'), missing articles, and awkward phrasing that disrupts the flow of your sentences. Punctuation and prepositions are also handled inconsistently within grammatical patterns. These frequent errors can cause difficulty for the reader. To improve your grammar score, you should focus on mastering basic sentence structures, ensuring accurate verb tense usage, and avoiding structural fragments when attempting complex sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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