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 table illustrates the changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables shows changes in the population of five districts of the city over the same period. The different percentages and population will be discussed.
To begin with New York in 2000 the population was greatest which was 8,00918,5 but in 1800 the population was least up to 79,216. It was noticed that in 1900 the population was 3,437,202 which was greater than the population in 1800 but less than the population in 2000.
On the other in manhattan the percentage in 1800 was 76% but in other district the percentage was least up to 24%. Secondly in 1900 the percentage was 54% and in other district it was 46% but lowest. In 2000 the percentage of other district was highest up to 81% but in manhattan it was 19% and the least.
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 address the task but fails to provide a comprehensive overview. While it mentions the total population figures, it fails to meaningfully compare the five districts, instead grouping them into a vague 'other district' category. This leads to a significant loss of information, as the specific trends for Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island are ignored. The data selection is limited and lacks the necessary analysis to highlight key trends or significant changes over the two-century period. To improve, you must report on the specific data points provided in the tables rather than generalizing them, and ensure a clear overview of the main trends is included.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into three short paragraphs, which is a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical or misused, such as 'On the other in manhattan' and 'Secondly'. The referencing is often unclear, particularly when referring to 'other district' without specifying which ones are being discussed. The logical flow between sentences is disjointed, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of data over time. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring clear references to the data would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'greatest', 'least', 'greater', and 'less'. There is a lack of variety in reporting verbs and descriptive language suitable for an academic report. Additionally, there are errors in word choice and formatting, such as the awkward presentation of the population figure '8,00918,5'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'peaked', 'experienced a significant rise', or 'accounted for a substantial proportion'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you describe the data more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The second and third tables shows') and incorrect preposition usage ('in other district'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the formatting of large numbers. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of complex sentence structures and the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence variety and proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy will be beneficial.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.