Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-02
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 illustratres the variations in the total population of all five districts of New York City between 1800 and 2000 while the second and third table show information about the alteration in the population of five districts of the city over the given period in question.
Overall, the total highest population of the city is marked in the year of 2000 whereas year 1800 shows the least population.Manhattan is found one of the most populated district in year 1800.Meanwhile, other districts have followed the same trend in year 2000.
Collectively, all five districts showed the highest population in year 2000 at 8,009,185 with 19 percent of Manhattan and 81 percent of other districts population.Incontrast, year 1800 faced a huge decline in population with 76 and 24 figures of Manhattan and other districts respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
The response addresses the task only partially and falls short of the minimum 150-word requirement, stopping at 135 words. While you attempted to summarize the main trends by mentioning the total population in 1800 and 2000, the selection of data is incomplete and contains inaccuracies. For instance, stating that year 1800 'faced a huge decline in population' is factually incorrect, as 1800 was the starting point rather than a drop, and your overview confuses overall growth with the highest population point. To reach a higher band, you must meet the word count requirement, provide an accurate overview of the main trends without misinterpreting the direction of data, and report key figures clearly across all required years.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
There is some basic organization with an attempt at paragraphing, but the response lacks a clear overall progression. Transitions between sentences can be mechanical or confusing, such as the sudden shift between the second and third paragraphs. Reference words and cohesive devices are sometimes handled awkwardly, and spacing errors between sentences (such as missing spaces after periods like 'population.Manhattan' and 'districts population.Incontrast') disrupt the flow of reading. To improve, ensure that your paragraphs follow a logical sequence from a general overview to specific details, use cohesive ties more naturally, and pay close attention to basic formatting and paragraph structures.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is adequate for a basic response, featuring appropriate terms such as 'variations', 'total population', and 'percentage'. However, you rely on repetitive phrasing and make noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as using 'alteration' instead of 'growth' or 'change' when describing population increases, and writing 'total highest population' instead of 'peak population'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but lexical inaccuracies restrict the precision of your reporting. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate a wider range of less common vocabulary and precise statistical terminology to describe trends fluently and naturally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You demonstrate a limited range of sentence structures, primarily relying on simple forms alongside a few attempts at complex sentences that contain control errors. There are frequent grammatical issues, particularly with article usage and prepositions, such as 'in the year of 2000' (instead of simply 'in 2000'), 'second and third table' (missing the plural 'tables'), and treating plural statistics awkwardly ('with 76 and 24 figures'). Punctuation also needs attention due to missing spaces after full stops. To improve, focus on expanding your repertoire of complex structures while tightening your control over basic agreements, articles, and punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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