Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-16
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)
This diagram illustrate the information about population changes of New York City, and the five districts of the city, including with Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and the last one is Staten Island at the same duration from 1800 to 2000.
In 1800, New York City overall, population was 79,216 after the century, In 1900, it touched to the 3,437,202 moreover, the population of this city increased, and it was 8,009,185 in 2000.
Manhattan City, population was 76% from it total in 1800, and it counted 60515 people's after that, in 1900 the population was 1,850,093 at it was 54% from its total Furthermore, In 2000 the people's of this city were 1,538,096 and it was 19% from all.
Other districts included Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten iland population was 18,701 in 1800 and it was 24% of total population after that, in 1900 the population of these cities was 1,587,109 and it was 46% from its overall population. Finally, in 2000 the population was 6,471,089 and it was 81%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by summarizing the population data for New York City and its districts. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, relying heavily on listing figures rather than synthesizing trends. While the overall population growth is noted, the comparison between the districts is limited by the grouping of the four smaller districts, which obscures the individual trends of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. The data is generally accurate, but the report lacks a clear overview or 'main features' summary at the beginning, which is essential for a high-scoring Task 1 response. The inclusion of percentages is helpful, but the overall development of the comparison is basic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often awkward or repetitive (e.g., 'after that', 'furthermore'). The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, and the logical flow is hindered by the repetitive structure of the sentences. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as when referring to 'other districts' as a single group, which makes the progression of information feel mechanical rather than fluid. Paragraphing is present, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be significantly improved by using a wider variety of linking words and better sentence integration.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms like 'population', 'city', and 'total'. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'touched to the' instead of 'reached', and 'people's' used incorrectly as a plural noun. The phrasing '76% from it total' is also non-standard. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic information, it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations related to describing data trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'This diagram illustrate'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'the population of this city increased, and it was 8,009,185 in 2000'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary commas and capitalization errors. The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with basic conjunctions. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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