Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-14
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 some data on the changes in total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables demonstrate changes in the population of all the five districts of the city( Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, it is evident that in all five districts the year 2000 recorded the highest figure, while, the year 1800 had the lowest.
To begin with, in Manhattan, the figure stood at 76 percent, before declining considerably to 54 percent in 1900. It then fell even further reaching 19 percent in the year 2000
on the other districts, the percentage switched, in 1800 it accounted for 24 percent. while in 1990 the population was at 1,587,109 which represented 46 percent. Lastly, in 2000 the population was at 6,471,089 which was 81 percent.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified some main features, the analysis is incomplete. You have not adequately covered the data for all five districts, and the comparison between the total population table and the district-specific tables is missing. The information provided is fragmented, and the jump between percentages and raw numbers is confusing without a clear structure. To improve, ensure you cover all categories provided in the tables and provide a more comprehensive overview of the trends across the entire 200-year period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into short paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical (e.g., 'To begin with', 'Lastly'). Furthermore, the referencing is unclear; for instance, the phrase 'on the other districts' is grammatically awkward and does not effectively link the ideas. The lack of a clear structure makes it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison of the data over time.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and limited. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'figure', 'changes', and 'accounted for'. There is an attempt to use some data-related vocabulary, but it lacks the precision required for a high-scoring IELTS response. For example, 'the percentage switched' is not an appropriate way to describe statistical trends. To improve, incorporate more varied vocabulary related to trends and data, such as 'fluctuated', 'proportion', 'surged', or 'remained stagnant'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are several grammatical errors that affect the flow of the text. Punctuation is inconsistent, such as the missing space before the parenthesis in 'city( Manhattan' and the lowercase 'o' at the start of the final paragraph. Sentence structures are generally simple, and there is a lack of complex grammatical forms. Errors such as 'on the other districts' instead of 'regarding the other districts' and the inconsistent use of commas and periods hinder the overall 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.