Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-26
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 illustrates the variations in total citizens of New York City from 1800 to 2000.
The second and third table illustrate the differences between the population of five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, the initial table indicates the population of New York city including all five districts over three centuries and the table second and third demonstrates the population and the percentage each district put in total population over three centuries.
Initially, at the 1800 century the population of New York city was 79216 including the major contributing of Manhattan city with 60515 percentage of 76% and other districts contributing with the percentage of 24% at 19 centuries. At the 20th and 21st century, the total population of New York are [redacted phone] and [redacted phone] respectively with the half supply of Manhattan city in 20th century and 19% in 21st century and the other five districts are 26% and 81% respectively.
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 address the task but fails to provide a clear, accurate summary of the data. The information provided is often confusing or factually incorrect based on the tables (e.g., referring to '1800 century' or '19 centuries'). The overview is repetitive and lacks a clear synthesis of the main trends, such as the significant growth in Brooklyn and Queens compared to the relative decline in Manhattan's share. The data selection is limited, and the analysis of the figures is imprecise, making it difficult for the reader to grasp the overall changes in the population distribution over the two-century period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'the table' and 'at the... century'. The transition between the general overview and the specific data points is abrupt. Referencing is often unclear, making it difficult to follow which data points correspond to which districts or time periods. While there is a basic structure, the lack of clear signposting and the repetitive nature of the sentences hinder the overall flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There is a reliance on basic terms like 'variations', 'differences', and 'contributing'. The student struggles with accurate terminology, using phrases like 'major contributing of Manhattan city' and 'half supply of Manhattan', which are not appropriate for describing statistical data. There are also errors in word choice and collocation that occasionally impede clarity. To reach a higher band, the student needs to use more precise academic vocabulary related to trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'accounted for', 'proportion', and 'experienced significant growth'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors, particularly with prepositions, articles, and verb tenses. Examples include 'the table second and third demonstrates' (subject-verb agreement) and 'at the 1800 century' (incorrect preposition and terminology). Sentence structures are generally simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors that affect clarity. Punctuation is basic, and there is a lack of variety in sentence construction. The frequent errors in basic grammar and the misuse of time-related expressions significantly impact the overall quality of the writing.
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