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 below images give me the diffrent of populations. In new york there are 79,216 population in 1800. In 1900 the new york population significiently increase in to [redacted phone] and after 100 years in 2000 population is almost double now its total [redacted phone] total poulation in new york increase. In second table same like new york tell the difference in poulation in Manhattan. In 1800 the total population of manhattam is 60,515 its total 76% and afer 100 years in 1900 population of manhattan is increase now its [redacted phone] and its total 54% percent increase and after 100 year the population of Manhattan is 19 % decrease to toal percentage.
Other district in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and staten Island the toal population in this district is 18701 and after 100 years in 1900 population of these district is almost 46% increase and after 100 year in 2000 there is very big change in population. The population in these district is 81% increase
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 summarize the provided data, but it fails to clearly report the main features. The description of the population trends is often inaccurate or confusing, such as the claim that the population in Manhattan decreased by 19% in 2000, which does not align with the provided data. Furthermore, the grouping of the other four districts is handled in a way that obscures the specific data points for each. The response lacks a clear overview and fails to make meaningful comparisons between the districts, which is a requirement for this task. The information provided is often disjointed and lacks the necessary analytical depth required for an Academic Task 1 response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into three paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is often unclear. The use of cohesive devices is very limited and often repetitive (e.g., 'In 1800', 'after 100 years'). There is a lack of logical flow between sentences, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of data. Referencing is often ambiguous, particularly when referring to 'these district' without clearly specifying which ones are being discussed. The paragraphing is present but does not effectively group related information, leading to a disjointed reading experience.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple terms like 'increase' and 'population'. There are frequent errors in word choice and form, such as 'diffrent of populations' instead of 'differences in population' and 'significiently increase in to' instead of 'significantly increased to'. The misuse of percentages and the inability to accurately describe numerical data indicate a limited range of vocabulary. The student struggles to use precise terminology to describe trends, which significantly limits the clarity of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede communication. There are consistent issues with verb tenses (e.g., 'population is increase' instead of 'population increased'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or run-on, and the use of articles and prepositions is often incorrect or missing. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are almost always faulty, leading to a lack of clarity. The high frequency of errors throughout the text makes it difficult to read and understand the intended meaning.
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