Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-06
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 tables illustrate the changed of population from 1800 to 2000 in New York while the others showed the population of five districts of the cities over the same duration.
overall,In New york city the population was surged dramatically from 1800 to 2000,while manhattan had the highest percentage of population in the early stage,also decreased at 2000.on the other hand the remaining districts had sharply rose in 2000s .
In 1800 ,manhattan had the highest amout of people which is about 76% of New York.while its Slightly decreased in 1900 to 54% .on the other hand new york had the biggest boost in 2000 about tripled up the population as compared to last decade,
Other then that, The other five cities which seems to had low amount of people in the early 1800 stage ,after then that it sharply increased the livings in 2000 with the massive growth of 81% holding of the population.and it seemed moderate in the 19s.
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 prompt partially, attempting to summarise the main trends in New York City's population between 1800 and 2000. An overview is provided at the beginning, noting the dramatic overall growth and the shifting distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the development of ideas is limited and some data points are handled somewhat vaguely, such as the statement that New York 'tripled up the population as compared to last decade' instead of looking across the centuries. To move to a higher band, the response needs to extend and support its points with clearer comparisons and more accurate data interpretation from the tables without mixing up timeframes.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response shows some organisation with an introduction, an overview paragraph, and body paragraphs dedicated to different segments of the data. However, there is no clear overall progression due to mechanical and inadequate use of cohesive devices, such as repetitive use of 'on the other hand' and 'Other then that'. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal logical flow is disrupted by awkward transitions and inconsistent punctuation. Referencing between sentences is sometimes unclear, making it harder for the reader to follow the progression of historical data. To achieve a higher band, the writer must use a wider range of cohesive links naturally and ensure each paragraph has a clear, logical thread.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate to convey basic trends, utilizing terms like 'surged', 'dramatically', and 'percentage'. However, there are noticeable errors in word choice, form, and collocation, such as 'the changed of population', 'amout', and 'sharply increased the livings'. Spelling slips like 'manhattan' (uncapitalized in places) and 'overall,In' also occur. These inaccuracies cause some difficulty for the reader and prevent the response from achieving a higher band. To improve, the student should focus on accurate word forms, natural collocations, and expanding their repertoire of functional vocabulary for describing data trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The text displays a very limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside a few faulty attempts at complex clauses. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the response, including issues with verb tense and form ('while the others showed', 'which seems to had'), missing articles ('in New york city'), and incorrect prepositions or clause structures ('which is about 76% of New York.while its Slightly decreased'). These frequent errors cause strain and difficulty for the reader. To progress, the writer needs to practice forming accurate complex sentences and pay closer attention to basic subject-verb agreement and punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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