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)
The first table illustrate the amendments in the whole population of New York City From 1800 to 2000. The second and third table illustrates the amendments in the citizenry of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Islands) over the same period.
In New York city, the population after nineteen century increased fastly. Whereas, in Manhattan, the inhabitants increased and decreased. While in other dsitricts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queen, Staten island) the population continued to increased.
In the year 1800 the population of New York was 79,216 whille in the year 1900, it increased to 3,437,202 and in 2000, its inhabitants reached to 8,009,185. In the Manhattan, in the year 1800, the citizenry was about 76%. In the next year, it decreased to 54%. While in the very next year, its population again decreased to 19%. The other districts (Brooklyn, bronx, queen, and Staten Island), the population was about 24%, then it gradually increased next year and reached to 46%. In the year 2000, it again increased upto 81%.
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 accurately report the main features. The interpretation of the tables is flawed; for instance, the student incorrectly describes the population of Manhattan as decreasing to 19% in 2000, whereas the data shows a different trend. Furthermore, the use of 'next year' to refer to 1900 and 2000 is factually incorrect and confusing. While the response identifies the total population growth, the lack of precision in reporting the specific district data and the misinterpretation of the timeframes significantly hinder the clarity of the report. To improve, ensure you carefully read the axes and labels of the charts provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes misused, such as the repetitive use of 'while' and 'in the year'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the districts. The transition between the general population data and the specific district data is abrupt. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus that flows logically into the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. Words like 'amendments' are used incorrectly in this context (it should be 'changes' or 'trends'). There are also spelling errors such as 'dsitricts' and 'whille'. The student relies on basic phrasing, which limits the ability to describe the data with precision. To reach a higher band, focus on using more academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'remained stable', or 'accounted for', and ensure accurate spelling of key terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'The first table illustrate', 'table illustrates') and incorrect adverb usage ('increased fastly' instead of 'increased rapidly'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization of proper nouns like 'bronx' and 'queen'. These errors occasionally impede the reader's understanding of the data. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for agreement will help improve the accuracy of your writing.
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