Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-20
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 given here, however, the first table gives the information of total population change in the New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show changes in the population of five different districts of city including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island over the same period of time.
In first table, it is clearly shown that the population of New York City has been changed drastically from 1800 to 2000. In the first cell of that table it is shown that the population was not more than eighty thousands. Moreover, in 2000, the population was more than eight million which is a significant increase between two centuries.
In the rest of the tables, table two gives an information about just Manhattan which clearly shows that the percentage of population was decreased gradually. However, in third table an information about the percentage of other districts is given which increased significantly with the passage of time.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to adequately address the task requirements. While you mention the tables, you do not provide a sufficient summary of the data. You state that the population 'changed drastically' and 'increased significantly,' but you fail to include specific data points from the tables to support these claims. A Band 6 response requires a clear overview and the selection of key features; your response lacks specific figures for the districts and fails to make meaningful comparisons between the categories. To improve, you must incorporate specific data (e.g., population figures for specific years) to illustrate the trends you are describing.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. You use basic cohesive devices like 'In first table' and 'In the rest of the tables,' which feel repetitive. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as when you refer to 'the first cell' without specifying the year or the exact data point. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, logical focus that connects back to the overall trend of the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher score. You rely on simple descriptors like 'drastically,' 'significantly,' and 'increased.' There is also some awkward phrasing, such as 'gives an information about,' which is grammatically incorrect (information is uncountable). To improve, try to use more precise academic vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'surged,' 'plummeted,' or 'proportion,' and ensure correct usage of articles and uncountable nouns.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors that occasionally hinder the flow. For example, 'gives the information of total population change in the New York City' should be 'provides information on the total population change in New York City.' Additionally, there are issues with article usage ('in the New York City') and prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these minor grammatical errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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