Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-03
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 illustrates the changes in the population of the new york city all 5 districts whereas second and third table compares population change in manhatann district with other 4 districts.
From 1800 to 2000 there is a huge increase the overall population of the new york city and at 1800 manhattan has 76 percent of the total population but with the time flies and the increase in overall population increase the percentage of manhattan because people are preferring different districts also and the percentage decrease 19 percent of total population till 2000.
From 1800 to 2000 there is an overall increase in other districts population means as shown in chart in 1800 other districts have only 24 of the total population and as time went on the percentage of total population increased to 81 percent means the other 4 districts were containing 81 percent of the total population.
According to the graph it clearly states that the new york population got increased from [redacted phone] and thats because the other 4 districts not because of manhattan because from [redacted phone] there was a slight decrease also in the population of the manhattan
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 addresses the task partially by identifying the overall growth of New York City and contrasting Manhattan's population share with the other districts. However, the data selection is somewhat restricted and fails to fully highlight key comparisons across the entire time frame. For instance, the student notes that Manhattan's population decreased from 1900 to 2000, which is accurate according to the tables (from 1,850,093 down to 1,538,096), but the overall reporting lacks a more comprehensive overview of the exact figures provided. The position presented is generally clear, but ideas remain somewhat limited and under-developed, preventing a higher score. To improve, you should ensure that key figures from the tables are integrated more systematically and that all main trends are fully outlined.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
There is some organisation present in the structure of the text, with paragraphs separating the introduction, Manhattan's trends, the other districts, and a summary. However, there is a lack of clear overall progression, and the sequencing of information feels repetitive at times, notably in the heavy reliance on phrases like 'From 1800 to 2000 there is an overall increase'. Cohesive devices are used rather repetitively and mechanically, such as 'and as time went on', which does not always link ideas smoothly. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal referencing and transitions between sentences need to be managed more effectively to establish a logical flow throughout the response.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate for the task. The student attempts some less common terms and comparative structures, such as 'overall population', 'percentage', and 'districts', but there are noticeable errors in word choice, form, and collocation, such as 'manhatann' instead of Manhattan, and awkward phrasing like 'with the time flies'. Spelling and word-choice inaccuracies occur frequently, which can occasionally cause some difficulty for the reader in grasping the exact meaning. To reach a higher level, you should expand your range of vocabulary to include more precise reporting verbs and synonyms, and ensure accurate spelling and capitalization of proper nouns.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, relying heavily on run-on sentences joined by conjunctions like 'and' rather than controlled complex forms. Attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty, such as in the opening sentence where clauses are awkwardly strung together without correct punctuation. There are frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles (e.g., 'in the new york city all 5 districts'), incorrect prepositions, and tense inconsistencies. These errors can cause difficulty for the reader and obscure the meaning of certain statements. To improve, focus on breaking down long, convoluted sentences into shorter, grammatically sound units and check your subject-verb agreement and article usage.
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