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 table show how population of new York city and its five years changed from in 1800 to 2000. Overall, In1800 population Manhattan very low was in new York city 79,216, Mostly 76 new York city live there that time or 3,437,202. If talk about other city they population very fast grew up as well as they have many places , Manhattan populations high but places very low Then, the second and third tables show in the population of the five districts of the Manhattan. If talk about districts, everyone know that Brooklyn city 18,701 or 24 live that populations very fast grew up Bronx, queens and state island.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. While you attempt to describe the data, the information provided is fragmented and lacks a clear, logical summary of the main trends. You have not effectively compared the population growth across the five districts, nor have you accurately interpreted the provided data tables. The response is too brief to adequately cover all parts of the task, resulting in an under-developed overview and a lack of supporting detail. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview of the main trends and use specific data points to support your descriptions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay lacks a clear structure. There is no logical progression of ideas, and the paragraphing is non-existent or ineffective. The use of cohesive devices is very limited and often inaccurate, making it difficult for the reader to follow the relationship between the data points. For example, phrases like 'If talk about other city' are used awkwardly as transitions. To improve, you should organize your response into clear paragraphs: an introduction, an overview of the main trends, and body paragraphs that group related data together. Use linking words such as 'furthermore', 'in contrast', or 'consequently' to connect your ideas more smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive, which restricts your ability to describe the data accurately. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'very fast grew up' instead of 'experienced rapid growth'. You rely on basic vocabulary and struggle to use terms appropriate for an academic report. To improve, focus on learning collocations related to data description, such as 'significant increase', 'steady decline', or 'reached a peak'. Expanding your range of vocabulary will allow you to describe the trends in the tables with greater precision and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'table show'), sentence structure (e.g., 'Manhattan very low was'), and missing articles. The sentence structures are mostly simple and often incomplete or poorly formed. There is no evidence of complex sentence structures. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb. Pay attention to verb tenses, especially when describing historical data, and practice using articles correctly. Proofreading for basic punctuation and capitalization will also help improve the clarity of your writing.

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