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 initial table illustrates changes in the overall population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The last two tables illustrates changes in the overall population of the five districts of New York over the same period.
Overall, the number of total population was higher in the year 2000 whereas the least number of total population was in the year 1800. In the district Manhatten total population was at the hightest in the year 2000 and following the same pattern, least number of population was in the year 1800. Moreover, in other districts of New York City majority of populaion was recorded in the year 2000 and least was recorded in the year 1800.
In the year 2000, for about 8,009,185 population was recorded and least was at 79,216. Also in the year 1900, number of population reached to 3,437,202. Following the same year, 54% of population was recorded in the district Manhattan and 46% was recorded in other districts. Also the total population rose in Manhatten district in the year 1800 whereas 24% of population was recorded in other districts. 81% was highest recorded in Manhatten and less percent was in other districts.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The response addresses the task only partially, presenting some key data from the tables while missing other critical information or misinterpreting figures. For instance, the statement that Manhattan population was at the highest in the year 2000 contradicts the table, which shows the peak was in 1900 at 1,850,093. Furthermore, the final paragraph contains confused comparisons, such as stating '81% was highest recorded in Manhatten', which reverses the actual data showing 81% belonged to the other districts in 2000. While you attempted to outline the general trends and select some figures, the inclusion of inaccurate data and lack of clear support prevents the response from reaching a higher level. To improve, ensure you carefully verify numbers and percentages from the visual data before writing, and accurately contrast the different districts across the specified years.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0
The organization of information lacks clear progression and overall cohesion. Although the response is broken into paragraphs, the logical flow is frequently disrupted by confusing statements and misplaced details. For example, moving between the overall population and specific district percentages in the final paragraph feels disjointed, and referencing 'Following the same year' is an unnatural cohesive device. Furthermore, referencing pronouns are sometimes unclear, leaving the reader confused about which data set is being discussed. Cohesive devices are used mechanically rather than flexibly. To achieve a more coherent structure, group your data logically—such as discussing the overall trends first, followed by a structured comparison of Manhattan versus the other districts—and use clear, precise linking words to guide the reader smoothly from one idea to the next.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. You make frequent attempts at topic-related terminology, but noticeable errors and awkward word choices appear throughout, such as 'total population was at the hightest' and 'majority of populaion'. There are also spelling mistakes like 'Manhatten' and 'populaion', alongside imprecise phrases like 'less percent'. While the language allows you to communicate basic data points, the vocabulary lacks the precision and flexibility needed to describe statistical trends effectively. To improve your lexical score, expand your range of vocabulary for describing changes—such as utilizing terms like 'surge', 'decline', 'proportion', or 'share'—and carefully proofread your work to eliminate basic spelling errors and ensure accurate collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The grammatical structures used are relatively limited, relying heavily on simple sentences and basic sentence patterns. When you attempt more complex structures, errors frequently occur, such as the awkward phrasing 'for about 8,009,185 population was recorded' and missing articles or prepositions in sentences like 'In the district Manhatten total population was at the hightest'. Additionally, verb tense and agreement issues appear, such as 'The last two tables illustrates'. These frequent errors can occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. To move up to a higher band, focus on increasing your range of complex sentence structures, ensuring accurate subject-verb agreement, and paying closer attention to articles and prepositions when reporting numerical and statistical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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