Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-01
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)
To begin with, the first chart it represents the growth of overall population of New York city between 1800 and 2000. whereas the second and the third chart depicts rise in population of five districts in cities, particularly Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island also in 1800 to 2000.
Overall, it is noticable in the first table that the population of the city grew rapidly, experiencing the most highest during the year 2000. Furthermore, it is also observed in the second and third table that population rose constantly. In addition, changes in proportions of population can also be seen between 1800 and 2000.
Initially, according to the first table the figures of population in New York city were around thousands, but it kept increasing till the next two centuries and its figures of population reached lakhs.
Beyond this, in another two tables the population of districts of five different cities grew at an astonishing rate. Espectially, the in the third table at the beginning population were in just less than 19000, but it showed a gradual growth throughout centuries. the second table also experienced a highly rapid growth of population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 report specific figures or meaningful comparisons. While it identifies the general trend of population growth, it lacks the necessary data points from the tables to support the summary. The description of the districts is vague, referring to 'five different cities' rather than the five boroughs of New York, which indicates a misunderstanding of the task. Furthermore, the use of terms like 'lakhs' is inappropriate for an international IELTS context, and the lack of specific data makes the report incomplete. To improve, you must select key data points (e.g., the population in 1800 vs 2000) to illustrate the trends described.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'Beyond this' and 'Espectially'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to 'the second and third table' without specifying which data they contain. While there is an overall progression, the logical flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and sometimes inaccurate. Phrases like 'most highest' are grammatically incorrect, and the use of 'lakhs' is not standard in this context. There is a reliance on basic vocabulary such as 'grew' and 'rose', with little attempt to use more precise terminology related to data description (e.g., 'surged', 'fluctuated', 'proportion'). Spelling errors such as 'noticable' and 'Espectially' further detract from the quality of the writing. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more academic vocabulary and ensuring correct word choice and spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the first chart it represents', 'most highest', and 'population were in just less than'. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the control over basic grammar, such as subject-verb agreement and article usage, is inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in simple structures prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would be a beneficial next step.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.