Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-12
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 rendered tables provides the information about the changes in the total population of New York city between three centuries and other two table depicts the population of the five districts of the city during the similar period of time.
overall, there was highest population recorded in the 20th century, whereas the Manhattan had the largest share in the total population of the New York city.
In 18th century, the figure for population was 79,216 in the New York city, while it had increased in the next century,1900 by 3,437,202. It was also increased in the 20th century and reached at 8,009,185.The percentage of population of Manhattan district of New York city was 76% in 1800 and for the next century the percentage was about 60% .In the 20th century the ratio of population was 19% .
In case of other districts of New York city , the percentage was about 24% in the beginning of the time period while it had inclined in the 19th century and reached at 46 % and it was rose again in the 2000 and finish at 81%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall population growth and the shifting proportions of the districts. However, there are inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, the student refers to the '18th century' when the table clearly labels the year 1800, which is the start of the 19th century. Additionally, the description of the population increase is slightly confusing, and the data for the other districts is grouped together in a way that lacks precision. While the main trends are identified, the lack of clarity regarding the specific time periods and the grouping of data points prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'In case of other districts' is not the most natural way to introduce a comparison. Furthermore, the referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the percentages of the districts. The progression of ideas is present but could be smoother with more varied linking words and better control over paragraph transitions.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'the rendered tables provides' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'finish at 81%'. The student relies on basic descriptors like 'highest', 'largest', and 'increased'. To improve, the student should incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'peaked', 'accounted for', 'surged', or 'proportionally'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede the flow of information. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('tables provides'), incorrect use of articles ('the New York city'), and tense confusion ('it was rose again'). While the student attempts to use complex sentence structures, these are often marred by errors. The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve the clarity of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.