Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-28
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 table illustrates the data of number of inhabitants passed three years of New York .
It has been observed that proportion of population is relatively higher in 2000 from the rest of the years round about [redacted phone] , while plummet in year 1800 with the population of 79,216 ,after 1800 there is a surge in population of New York reached to 3437,2020 individuals.
Other table demonstrates the population by percentage of five different areas of the city along with number of individuals . It is noted that in the Manhattan district population is significantly fall in 1800 with percentage of total population 76% , moreover in 2000 as percentage of total population in Manhattan district was relatively minimum as compared to other years.
while comparing other districts with Manhattan as percentage of total population is crucially surge in other districts ,Manhattan percentage significantly fall under other districts in 2000 ,however population in other district marginally fall under Manhattan in 1900.
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 address the task but fails to provide a clear, accurate summary of the data. The figures cited are often confusing or incorrect (e.g., '3437,2020 individuals'). While the response identifies some trends, such as the growth in population, it struggles to select and report the main features effectively. The comparison between districts is vague and lacks the necessary precision required for an Academic Task 1 report. The overview is not clearly defined, and the data interpretation is inconsistent, which hinders the reader's ability to grasp the overall trends in the population changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the flow of ideas is frequently disrupted by awkward phrasing and a lack of logical progression. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'moreover' and 'however', but they are often applied incorrectly or in a way that does not clarify the relationship between the data points. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to follow the comparison between the five districts. The overall structure is mechanical, and the lack of clear signposting makes the information difficult to digest.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and often used inaccurately. Phrases like 'passed three years' and 'crucially surge' demonstrate a lack of control over collocation and word choice. There are also issues with basic terminology related to data description, such as 'significantly fall' instead of 'fell significantly'. While the student attempts to use some descriptive language, the errors in word choice and the misuse of technical terms impede the clarity of the report. A wider range of precise vocabulary is needed to describe trends and comparisons accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often affect the clarity of the sentences. There are issues with subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and sentence structure (e.g., 'population is relatively higher in 2000 from the rest of the years'). The use of complex structures is limited and often results in errors that make the meaning ambiguous. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of commas and the formatting of numbers. While the basic meaning is sometimes discernible, the high frequency of errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
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