Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-27
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 shows changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. While second and third table show changes in the population of the five districts of the city over the same period. An over all analysis show that population of New York City is higher than Manthan and other districts. Moreover in next 200 years New York population increases with higher percentage. In New York city the number of population is 79,216 in 1800 which crosses 3 million in next 100 years. Furthermore, its population increases with high rate in 2000 it becomes 8 million. However, in other five districts they carring 24% of total population which become double in 1900 and become 81% of tatal population in 2000. While in Manhattan containing 76% of tatol population in 1800 with the passage of time it decreases and become 54% which further decreases to19% of total population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response attempts to summarise the data, but it struggles to accurately interpret the provided tables. For instance, the statement that the population of New York is 'higher than Manthan' (Manhattan) is confusing, as Manhattan is a district within the city. The description of the data is somewhat disjointed, and the analysis of the percentages is inaccurate based on the provided figures. While the response identifies some key trends, such as the overall growth of the city and the shift in population distribution among districts, the lack of clarity and precision in reporting the data prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between the city total and the individual district data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the flow of ideas is often interrupted by awkward phrasing and grammatical errors. While some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'However' are used, they are sometimes placed incorrectly or do not logically connect the preceding and following sentences. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the mention of 'other five districts' when there are only five districts in total. The progression of information is somewhat mechanical, and the lack of clear logical links between the sentences makes the text difficult to follow at times.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, with several spelling errors such as 'Manthan' (Manhattan), 'carring' (carrying), and 'tatal' (total). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the trends with precision. Phrases like 'increases with high rate' are simplistic and lack the academic tone required for Task 1. There is a reliance on basic descriptors, and the misuse of terms (e.g., 'carring') hinders the clarity of the report. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'significant growth', 'proportion', or 'decline'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'analysis show', 'population increases'), incorrect verb tenses, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack proper punctuation, such as 'While second and third table show changes...'. The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with some errors in complex construction. The frequent errors in basic grammar, such as missing articles and incorrect word forms, significantly impact the overall quality of the writing.
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