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 first table provides data on total inhabitants of New York City between 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables illustrates the variations in the residents of the city having five districts at the same time. Overall, the most significant feature is the population of New York city among five districts were greater in 2000 and the other districts also demonstrate the high number of people in same year.
Turning to the details, the New York City has the lowest number of people in 1800. Subsequently, in Manhattan the percentage of total individuals in 1900 are 54% with the slight difference to the other disctricts which are Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and State Island of the same year is 46%. However, in 1800 the number of population in Manahattan is 60,515 with the highest ration to the other districts within that year.
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 ability to fully address the task. While you have attempted to identify some data points, the summary is incomplete. You have not provided a comprehensive overview of the trends across the two centuries, and the selection of data is fragmented. For instance, you mention 1900 and 1800 but fail to discuss the significant growth patterns or the final figures in 2000. To improve, ensure you cover all time periods and compare the districts more systematically rather than focusing on isolated statistics.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay has a basic structure with an introduction and a body paragraph, but the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as 'Turning to the details' and 'Subsequently'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the percentages of the districts in 1900, which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the logic. Paragraphing is present but insufficient to separate the different data sets effectively. To improve, use a wider range of linking words and ensure each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'variations in the residents' instead of 'population changes' and 'highest ration' instead of 'highest ratio'. Additionally, there are spelling errors like 'disctricts' and 'State Island'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on repetitive structures. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure you proofread for spelling 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. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The second and third tables illustrates') and incorrect prepositional usage ('in 1800 to 2000' instead of 'between 1800 and 2000'). Tense usage is also inconsistent, shifting between past and present when describing historical data. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on consistent tense usage and subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.