Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-29

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 displays the important data of total population changes in New York City of all five districts from 1800 to 2000. There is a huge difference of population in every year. The minimum population in all five districts of New York is in the year of 1800 and the maximum change in population is in the year of 2000 and that is the huge variation in the population by year.

The second table depicts total percentage of population of Manhattan from 1800 to 2000. There is a big difference in percentage of population in each year. The percentage is at its peak in 1800 that is about 76% and then decrease in 19% in 2000 which is a huge difference.

The third table provides data of other districts that include Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and State Island. The percentage of population gradually increase every year in each district and that is from 24% in 1800 to 81% in 2000 and it is at its peak level in every district with huge difference.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response attempts to summarise the data but fails to provide a clear overview or highlight key trends effectively. While it mentions the start and end points, it lacks a comparative analysis of the data. The description of the tables is somewhat repetitive and relies on vague descriptors like 'huge difference' rather than specific data points from the tables. To improve, you should group the data more logically and provide a clear 'overview' paragraph that captures the main trends, such as the overall growth of NYC and the shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other four districts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure for this task. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and somewhat mechanical. Phrases like 'The first table', 'The second table', and 'The third table' are used to start each paragraph, which makes the writing feel repetitive. There is a lack of linking words to connect ideas within the paragraphs, and the progression of information is somewhat disjointed. Improving the variety of transition signals and using referencing (e.g., 'this trend', 'the latter') would help the flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use words like 'huge', 'difference', and 'peak' without much variation. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'State Island' (should be Staten Island) and 'decrease in 19%' (should be 'decreased to 19%'). To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'significant increase', 'dramatic decline', 'fluctuated', or 'remained stable'. Focusing on precise terminology for data reporting will significantly improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses mostly simple sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and prepositions (e.g., 'The minimum population... is in the year of 1800', 'gradually increase every year'). Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of complex sentence structures and the frequency of errors limit the score. You should aim to incorporate more complex structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice, and pay closer attention to tense consistency when describing historical data.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.