Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-31
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 given tables illustrate the changes in the total population of New York between year 1800 to 2000 . The second and third tables convey changes in the population of five districts of the city .
Overall there were comparison between five districts , such as Manhattan , Brooklyn , Bronx , Queen , Staten Island over the same period and comparison of population yearly .
Total population of New york city in 1800 year nearly 79,216 and the highest population is in the year 2000 approximately 8,009,185 . In Manhattan district the lowest population was in the 1800 year about 76%. And the highest population was 1,850,093 as a percentage is about 54% . Other district had the least population in year 1800 about 18,701 and total percentage was about 24 % and the highest was in the year 2000 nearly 6,471,089 as a percentage nerealy 81 % . This was the comparison between five districts .
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 data but fails to provide a clear overview of the main trends. While it mentions the total population growth and some district figures, the selection of data is confusing and lacks analytical depth. The comparison between the districts is poorly executed, with inaccurate interpretations of the percentages provided in the tables. For instance, stating that Manhattan had a 'lowest population' of 76% is confusing and does not clearly relate to the data. To improve, you should focus on identifying the most significant changes, such as the rapid growth of specific districts compared to others, rather than listing isolated figures without clear context or accurate comparison.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The introduction is repetitive, and the body paragraphs lack clear transitions between ideas. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'the highest' and 'the lowest'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the five districts. To improve, use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'in contrast', 'furthermore', 'consequently') to connect your sentences and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You rely heavily on simple terms like 'highest', 'lowest', and 'changes'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'in 1800 year' instead of 'in the year 1800' or 'in 1800'. The attempt to describe percentages is imprecise and confusing. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'experienced a significant increase', or 'accounted for a proportion of'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with article usage (e.g., 'in 1800 year'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack proper punctuation. For example, 'Other district had the least population' should be 'The other districts had the lowest population'. The range of structures is limited to simple sentences, with little evidence of complex grammatical forms. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for articles and pluralization will help improve your accuracy significantly.
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