Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-02
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 illustrates changes in the total population of New York city between 1800 and 2000. While, the second and third tables illustrate changes in the citizen of the five districts of the city in the same time period.
Overall, New York had the highest population in the 2000, which was almost ten time higher than 1800. While, Manhattan recorded the highest changes in public in the 1800, it was almost 3 time higher than other district in the same time period.
To begin with, in 1800, New York city had 79,216 pubic changes but in the next 100 years this number increased and reached at 3,437,202. Apart from this, the highest population change in 2000, it 8,009,185.
on the other hand, Manhattan record the lowest population changed in 1800 its 60,515 which was 76% of the total citizens. In 1900, population increased very highly, and reached at 1,850,093 also it changed 54% of total publics. Following this, changes of total residents in 2000, which was 3 time lower than 1900, its 1,538,096.
Nevertheless, other districts recorded the lowest changes in the citizens rather than Manhattan which was 24%, but in 1900, the number of change of population increased, and reached at 1,587,109, which was 46% of total civilization. The highest changes noticed in 2000, it was almost six time higher than 1900, its 81% of total 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 struggles with accuracy and clarity. You have identified the main trends, such as the overall population growth, but the interpretation of the data is often confusing. For instance, you refer to 'public changes' instead of 'population figures', which makes the data difficult to follow. Additionally, some comparisons are mathematically incorrect or poorly phrased, such as stating Manhattan had the 'lowest population changed' in 1800 when it actually held the majority of the population. To improve, focus on accurately reporting the figures provided in the tables and ensuring that your summary highlights the most significant trends rather than listing individual data points in a confusing manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression is frequently interrupted by awkward phrasing and unclear referencing. The use of cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'on the other hand' is somewhat mechanical and does not always fit the context of the data being presented. Furthermore, the transition between the general population and the specific districts is abrupt. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus and that you use linking words more naturally to guide the reader through the comparison of the different districts over the three time periods.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is quite limited and often inaccurate. You frequently use the word 'changes' or 'public' where 'population' or 'residents' would be appropriate. Phrases like 'population increased very highly' and 'total civilization' are unnatural and do not accurately convey the meaning of the data. There is also a lack of variety in your reporting verbs and descriptive language. To reach a higher band, you should work on using more precise terminology related to statistics, such as 'growth', 'decline', 'proportion', and 'figures', and avoid repeating the same basic words throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede communication. Issues include incorrect article usage ('the 2000', 'the 1800'), subject-verb agreement errors ('Manhattan record'), and awkward sentence structures ('it 8,009,185'). You rely mostly on simple sentence structures, and your attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors, such as the comma splice in the first paragraph. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when discussing dates and figures. Proofreading for basic punctuation and article errors will also significantly improve your score.
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