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 illustrate general population of New York city in different time period held in 1800 to 2000.From every 5 districts 2000 has high population comparative.Moreover, other districts such as Bronklyn, Bronx, Queens , Staten island have rise over same period at 81%
Initially, every 5 District have grown higher by the period of 1800 -2000. Mainly 2000, comparatively held huge growth in other districts than Manhattan by increasing over 81%. However at 1800 to 1900 , other Districts Population were decreased comparatively Manhattan. Manhattan at increased highly at 76% to 54% over that period. But the time at 2000, Population have been completely twisted in addition to decreases the Population at Manhattan. Other districts given twice growth by 81%.
In conclusion, However 2000 period has best for other districts by rising population double comparatively than Manhattan but the range held in Manhattan over the past period at 1800 to 1900 were much population because population were much grown at that moment than other 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 summarise the data but fails to clearly identify the main trends. While it mentions the population growth in New York City, the description of the data is confusing and inaccurate. For instance, the claim that other districts rose by 81% is not supported by the provided tables, and the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is difficult to follow due to unclear phrasing. The response lacks a clear overview of the significant shifts in population distribution over the two centuries. To improve, focus on identifying the most prominent trends, such as the overall population increase and the shift in dominance from Manhattan to the outer boroughs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression of ideas is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'comparatively' and 'however'. Referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts. The conclusion does not effectively summarise the main points and contains confusing statements about the population trends. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each sentence clearly relates to the previous one would significantly enhance the flow of the writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is limited and often used incorrectly. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'twisted' to describe population shifts and 'held huge growth' instead of 'experienced significant growth'. The spelling of 'Bronklyn' (Brooklyn) is incorrect. The vocabulary used is often repetitive, and the student struggles to express numerical data or trends with precision. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on learning collocations related to data description, such as 'experienced a steady increase', 'accounted for', or 'the majority of the population'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'The table illustrate'), incorrect tense usage (e.g., 'Population have been completely twisted'), and missing articles. The sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors that make the meaning unclear. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around numbers and commas. Focusing on basic sentence construction, ensuring correct verb tenses, and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would help improve the accuracy of the writing.
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