Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-30
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 changes in the total population of New York city , the second and third tables indicates changes in the citizens of the five districts of the New York city from1800 to 2000.
Overall , it can be seen that the total population in New York had increased in each year. While , other two tables showed fluctuation in all five districs people.
Firstly, in 1800 manhattan disrict had population 60, 515 and proportion of the citizens 76% , while in 1900 it had rose population around 1,850,093 wh
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 is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the ability to address all parts of the task. While the introduction attempts to outline the data, the body paragraph is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence. Consequently, the main features are not adequately highlighted, and there is no meaningful comparison of the data across the century. To improve, you must ensure you complete the task by covering all data points provided in the tables and providing a full summary that meets the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response shows a basic attempt at paragraphing, with an introduction and a body paragraph. However, the abrupt ending makes it impossible to assess the logical progression of the text. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical way (e.g., 'Firstly', 'While'), and the lack of a conclusion or a fully developed body section means the overall structure is incomplete. To improve, focus on linking your ideas more fluidly and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear purpose and a logical conclusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You use basic terms like 'changes', 'tables', and 'population' repeatedly. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'citizens of the five districts' (which is slightly unnatural in this context) and 'it had rose population' (incorrect verb form). To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'experienced a significant growth', or 'accounted for'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that hinder clarity. Examples include 'the second and third tables indicates' (subject-verb agreement error), 'from1800' (spacing error), and 'it had rose population' (incorrect tense and structure). The sentence structures are simple, and the attempt at a more complex structure in the final sentence is incomplete. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage for historical data, and ensuring your sentences are complete and punctuated correctly.
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