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)
The table illustrates changes in the residents of New York city between 1800 to 2000. The population changes among five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) given by second and third tables. New York city shown greater growth of people from 1800 to 1900. Manhattan district population had decreased and other districts population had tremendously increased.
New York city population were increased year by year. The population were recorded 79,216 in the year 1800. The residents had dramatically arise to 3,437,202 in 1900. The people have increased to 45% by the year 2000 about 8,009,185.
The second and third table gives population of five districts in city. Manhattan residents were 60,515 recorded in the year 1800 as well as people have reached to 1,850,093 by 1900. In the year 2000 population of Manhattan have significantly declined to 1,538,096. Other districts population were increased by every year mentioned in table. However, population were recorded 18,701 in 1800. The residents have increased to 46% of total population in 1900. Dramatically increased the population from 46% to 81%. The value of population were recorded of other districts 6,471,089 in 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the contrasting trends between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and relies heavily on listing raw data points rather than synthesising the information. The interpretation of the data is occasionally inaccurate; for instance, stating that Manhattan's population 'significantly declined' in 2000 compared to 1900 is technically correct, but the report lacks a clear overview of the relative shifts in population distribution between the districts over the two centuries. The inclusion of percentages is helpful, but the overall summary lacks a cohesive narrative.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive (e.g., 'The second and third table', 'In the year 2000'). There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect ideas between sentences and paragraphs. The progression of information is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the final paragraph where the transition between discussing Manhattan and the 'other districts' is abrupt and confusing. Improving the use of referencing and transition signals would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is a reliance on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'recorded'. Some word choices are awkward or incorrect, such as 'residents had dramatically arise' (should be 'risen') and 'population were recorded of other districts'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and the student struggles to use more academic or descriptive terms to convey the trends effectively. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more varied synonyms and precise collocations related to data reporting.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'population were increased' and 'population of Manhattan have significantly declined'. There are also errors in tense usage and word order, such as 'Dramatically increased the population'. While the student attempts some complex structures, they are often inaccurate. The sentence construction is frequently simplistic, and the lack of control over basic grammar rules prevents the response from achieving a higher score. More attention to proofreading for basic agreement and tense consistency is required.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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