Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-19
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)
There are three tables illustrating the data about the variation in total population of New York City and five districts of the city Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the population level is increase in New York City in 200 years. Similarly, the population trend is also raised in four districts from 24% to 81% except Manhattan. Contrary to this, the population is significantly decreased in Manhattan from 1800 to 2000.
In the first table the population of New York is almost doubled in 100 years and then raised to 300%.
In the second table the population trend is significantly reduced from 76% to 19% in 200 years. While, the populace community has experienced substantial increase in four districts from 24% to 81%, almost is is third time of its starting.
In conclusion, the population trend is leveled up in New York city and in other districts except Manhattan.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by identifying the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in distribution away from Manhattan. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The student mentions '300%' and 'third time' without clearly explaining the data points or comparing the specific figures provided in the tables. The description of the population shift is slightly inaccurate, as the data shows a percentage share change rather than a simple increase in the number of people in the other districts. To reach a higher band, the response needs to select and highlight more specific data points to support the general trends described.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, including an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally confusing. For example, the phrase 'Contrary to this' is used to introduce the decline in Manhattan, but the preceding sentence structure is unclear. The transition between the first and second tables is abrupt. While the paragraphing is sufficient, the flow of ideas is hindered by repetitive sentence structures and a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect the data points effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is limited and sometimes imprecise. Phrases like 'populace community' and 'leveled up' are not standard academic collocations. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'is is third time' and 'population trend is also raised'. While the student attempts to use some topic-specific vocabulary, the lack of precision and the repetitive nature of the word choices prevent the response from achieving a higher score. More variety and accurate collocations related to data description are required.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'population level is increase' (should be 'increased') and 'population trend is also raised' (should be 'rose'). Subject-verb agreement and tense usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of complex structures and the presence of persistent errors in basic grammar limit the score. To improve, the student should focus on using a wider variety of sentence forms and ensuring accurate verb tenses when describing historical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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