Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-05
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 population of New York City alters from two years ([redacted phone]) remaining tables depicts the changes in the population of five diverse cities of New York from same years.
Overall, it is noticeable that, there is significant rose in population from year 1800 to 2000 while, population of Manhattan increases but their percentages were declined. districts like Brookyln, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island followed thr same trend like Manhattan population but their ratios were boost.
It is obvioius that, In year 1800 population of Manhattan was 60,515 while other district population were fewer their percentages were als showed remarkable diffedrence from 76% to 24% rose to fall from percentages. In 1900 year, population increases both Manhattan and other districts of New York City on the other hand, showed their percentages were increased from year 1800 to 2000 in 4 district of New York while decrease percentages of year 1900 of Manhattan.In 2000 there is remarkable drop of percentage from 1800 to 2000 of Manhattan while, other districts showed rose in percentages from 24% to 81%.
A closer look reveals that, there is rose of percentages from year 1800 to 2000 of 4 districts of New York while declined of percentages of Manhattan City.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response covers parts of the task by reporting some figures from the tables, such as the population of Manhattan in 1800 as 60,515, and highlights the general trend of population growth alongside shifting percentages. However, the overall overview is somewhat confused, and the selection of data is erratic and repetitive. The student attempts to report the main features and make comparisons, but the ideas are limited and lack clear extension, focusing too heavily on circular phrasing about percentages. To move to a higher level, the response needs a clearer, more precise overview that properly summarises the key trends without unnecessary repetition, alongside a better-structured presentation of data from all periods.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response shows some attempt at organisation, but there is no clear overall progression or logical flow throughout the text. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal structure of the paragraphs is weak, leading to a disjointed reading experience. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, such as repetitive transitions like 'It is obvioius that' and 'A closer look reveals that', which fail to create natural links between ideas. Referencing is also confusing at times, making it difficult to follow which data points are being contrasted. To improve coherence, ideas need to be logically grouped and sequenced, with a wider and more accurate range of cohesive ties used to guide the reader smoothly through the comparisons.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, frequently relying on simple terms and suffering from noticeable word choice and word formation errors, such as 'alters' instead of 'illustrates', 'significant rose' instead of 'significant rise', 'Brookyln' instead of 'Brooklyn', and 'diffedrence'. There are also awkward collocations like 'ratios were boost'. These errors require the reader to decode the meaning and cause some difficulty. To achieve a higher band, the student must expand their lexical range to include more precise vocabulary suited to data analysis, such as verbs and nouns indicating trends and proportions, while paying closer attention to word forms, spelling, and standard academic collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty, leading to severe structural awkwardness such as in the opening sentence: 'The table illustrates the population of New York City alters from two years (1800-2000) remaining tables depicts...'. There are frequent errors in verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions, including 'population increases but their percentages were declined' and 'percentages were als showed'. These frequent errors frequently obscure the meaning and cause strain for the reader. To improve in this area, the writer needs to focus on foundational grammar, ensuring correct tense consistency when describing past data, accurate subject-verb agreement, and properly formed simple and complex sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.