Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-09
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 given three tables illustrate the chnage in overall population of New York City and its five districts over the period from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, in year 2000, all five districts of New York showed highest population rate, while year 1800 experienced a dramatic decrease in popoulation of all these cities.
Looking first at table one, the whole population of New York city is divided into five different cities that is presented in other two tables. In year 1800, the population of Manhattan was 76% of total population while other districts had population 24% of total. Similaryly, in 1900 the pouplation of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island was 1,587,109 that was 8% less than from Manhattan.
Turning to year 2000, the pouplation of first district was 19% and the other four disctricts had 81% pouplation of total New York's population which was considerable highest rate from all having figures 6,471,089.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to summarise the data but fails to provide a clear overview of the main trends. While it mentions the population growth, it struggles to accurately interpret the provided tables. For instance, the claim that 1800 experienced a 'dramatic decrease' is factually incorrect based on the data, which shows a steady increase over time. Furthermore, the analysis of the percentages is confusing and lacks precision. Key features, such as the significant growth in Queens or the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other boroughs, are not clearly highlighted or compared effectively. The response would benefit from a more careful reading of the data and a clearer structure to present the main features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as the use of 'Similaryly' to introduce a comparison that does not clearly follow from the previous sentence. Referencing is also problematic; the phrase 'the first district' is ambiguous, as the reader must infer that this refers to Manhattan. While there is an attempt at an overall structure, the lack of clear logical links between the data points makes the information difficult to follow. Improved use of linking words and clearer referencing would enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are frequent spelling errors, such as 'chnage', 'popoulation', 'Similaryly', and 'disctricts', which distract the reader. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the data with precision; for example, 'considerable highest rate' is an awkward collocation. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider variety of terms to describe trends, such as 'significant growth', 'proportion', or 'accounted for', and ensure that spelling is accurate. The current level of vocabulary is adequate for basic communication but lacks the sophistication required for higher scores.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the whole population of New York city is divided into five different cities that is presented' (subject-verb agreement) and 'which was considerable highest rate from all having figures' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the misuse of articles and prepositions is common. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of comparative structures. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the frequency of errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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