Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-25
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 5.5)
The first table represent the transformation in overall population in New York city and other two tables represent differ in population in percentage of Manhattan and other four districts of New York.
The had been major changes in population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. There used to be only 79,216 individuals residing in New York which increased to 8,009,185 three decades later.
We can notice that Manhattan population change rate have been decreasing from 1800 to 2000 but in other four districts of New York the result was opposite, as the rate increased from 24 percent to 81 percent in just thirty years.
From the table it is seen that most of the peoples are interested to reside on Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island rather than Manhattan but in 1800 the situation was opposite as Manhattan used to have population
significantly more as compared to other four districts.
To sum up, New York city population had increased by huge margin in two hundred years.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response attempts to summarize the data, but it fails to accurately interpret the provided tables. For instance, the claim that the population increased to 8,009,185 'three decades later' (referring to 1830) is factually incorrect based on the data provided. Furthermore, the analysis of the percentage shifts is confusing and lacks precision. While the main features are identified, the lack of accurate data reporting and the misinterpretation of the trends significantly hinder the task achievement. To improve, ensure that data points are transcribed correctly and that comparisons are based on the actual figures provided in the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as the transition 'The had been major changes' (likely a typo for 'There'). The logical progression between sentences is sometimes weak, particularly when discussing the population shifts between Manhattan and the other districts. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to follow the comparison between the different time periods. Improved use of linking words and clearer referencing would enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'transformation in overall population' and 'most of the peoples are interested to reside'. The use of 'peoples' is incorrect in this context, as 'people' is the correct plural. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use less common or more precise terminology to describe the trends shown in the tables. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The first table represent', 'Manhattan population change rate have been decreasing') and incorrect article usage. There is a limited range of sentence structures, with most sentences being simple or containing errors when attempting more complex constructions. Punctuation is generally functional, but the overall control of grammar is inconsistent. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring correct verb tenses would significantly improve the quality of the writing.
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