Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-18
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 tables illustrate the increase in total population in New York city and in its five districts from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the population increases drastically in New York city and in its four districts over the period of time whereas in Manhattan district, the number of people gets lower from 1800 to 2000 years.
In the first table, inhabitants number raised from 79,216 in 1800 to 3,437,202 in 1900. Further, it grows to 8,009,185 in 2000 in the New York city. In the second table, Manhattan citizens number reduces from 76% to 19% in year 1800 and 2000 respectively.
In the last table, the population expand from 18,701 with 24% in 1800 to nearly 1,600,000 with 46% in 1900. Then it almost gets doubled to 81% in year 2000 in the four districts of the new york city.
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 the main trends, the analysis is superficial. You have not fully utilised the data provided; for instance, the comparison between the districts is underdeveloped, and the distinction between the total population and the percentage distribution is confusingly presented. The summary of the 'four districts' is inaccurate as there are five districts mentioned in the prompt. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed breakdown of the data and verify your figures against the source material to ensure accuracy.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally repetitive (e.g., 'In the first table', 'In the last table'). The transition between the total population data and the district percentages lacks clarity, making it difficult to follow the relationship between the two sets of information. Using a wider range of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would improve the flow and logical progression of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic verbs like 'increases', 'grows', and 'reduces'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'inhabitants number' instead of 'the number of inhabitants' and 'population expand' instead of 'population expanded'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'surged', 'declined', 'fluctuated', or 'accounted for'. Additionally, ensure you use correct word forms to avoid grammatical errors that affect lexical accuracy.
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. For example, 'the number of people gets lower from 1800 to 2000 years' is awkward and grammatically incorrect. There are also issues with tense consistency, such as mixing present and past tenses when describing historical data. Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, as seen in 'population expand'. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and ensuring consistent use of past tenses when discussing historical trends, as well as checking for subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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