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 table graph compares the changes in the population of new york city in 1800 to 2000.second and third tables show the five district population which is manhattan,brooklyn,bronx,queens and staten island in the same period.the lowest population in 1800 which is 79216 of all five districts and the highest population in 2000 which is [redacted phone] of same five districts.
in 1800 manhattan population was 60515 which were highest all over the district that was 76% and in 2000 other district had population increased were [redacted phone] whic is 81%.population decreased in manhattan was 19% and the amount is [redacted phone].all other five district had also decreased population were 18701 in 1800 which is 24%.
in 1900 manhattan had 1850,093 which 54% and all other had lowest in 1900 that was [redacted phone] and is percentage is 46%.
overall,new york city population had increased in 2000.all other four district had increased 81% as compared to manhattan which is 19%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the task partially by attempting to summarise the provided tables on New York City's population changes. While key data points are mentioned, such as the overall population figures and the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, the reporting is mechanical and lacks sufficient development or a fully clear overview. For instance, the student states that the 'population decreased in manhattan was 19% and the amount is 1538096', which misinterprets a proportional drop for an absolute numerical decrease, as Manhattan's population actually grew between 1800 and 1900 before falling slightly by 2000. Additionally, the data points for other districts are somewhat confused. To reach a higher level, the response needs to provide a clearer, more accurate overview of the main trends without confusing proportions with population growth or decline, and extend the comparisons between Manhattan and the outer boroughs more logically.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The text shows some organisation with basic paragraphing and a concluding overview introduced by 'overall', but there is no clear overall progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are minimal, repetitive, or inaccurate, and referencing is frequently unclear. For instance, phrases like 'all other five district had also decreased population' lack logical connection to the surrounding sentences and disrupt the flow of information. Furthermore, the lack of capitalization at the beginning of sentences and proper nouns (such as 'new york city' and 'manhattan') makes the text harder to follow. To improve cohesion, the writer should use a wider variety of transitional markers to link ideas smoothly and ensure that referencing pronouns and transitional phrases accurately reflect the relationships between the data points.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task, with noticeable errors in word choice and word form that occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. The student attempts to use statistical terms such as 'percentage', 'population', and 'districts', but terms are misused, such as claiming that other districts 'had increased 81%' when referring to a proportional share rather than growth. There are also persistent spelling and lexical control issues, such as the omission of capital letters throughout the text. To achieve a higher band, the student must expand their lexical range to include more precise synonyms and functional phrases for describing data trends, such as 'accounted for', 'proportion', or 'rose significantly', while avoiding basic vocabulary repetition.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The response demonstrates a very limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, and tense usage. Attempts at complex or relative clauses are often faulty, as seen in phrases like 'the lowest population in 1800 which is 79216 of all five districts', which lacks a main verb and proper clause structure. Errors such as subject-verb agreement issues ('other district had population increased') and missing articles are frequent. Furthermore, punctuation is largely neglected, with missing capitalisation at the start of sentences and names, and run-on phrasing. To improve, the writer needs to focus on constructing complete sentences with correct verb forms, improving basic punctuation, and mastering simple grammatical patterns before attempting complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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