Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-22
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 following table describes the data of New York's city population changes from 1800 to 2000. Whereas, the other two tables provides us information about population changes in five districts of New York in different percentages also from 1800 to 2000. But in first table, there is overall population of New York including its five districts.
From the graph, we can see that from the year 1800 to 2000, there is an enormous increase in population from 79,216 to 8,009,185. What's more, in the second table which gives us information about Manhattan's population, we can see that its population percentage significantly decreased from 79 percent in the year 1800 to 19 percent in 2000.
In the third table, which provides data of all five district's population including Brooklyn, Bronx and so on, we can see that their population percentages significantly increased from 24 percent to 81 percent, covering almost 6,471,089 people.
In conclusion, this table basically provides overall different population changes along with different percentages including all five districts of New York's 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 provides a basic overview of the data but fails to fully address the requirements of the task. While it mentions the total population increase and the shift in Manhattan's percentage, it lacks a comprehensive comparison of the five districts. The description of the third table is vague, grouping all other districts together as 'and so on' rather than identifying them, which is a significant omission. The analysis is limited and does not highlight key trends or make sufficient comparisons between the districts over the 200-year period. To improve, you should systematically report on the specific data points for each district and identify the most significant changes or patterns across the entire timeframe.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, such as starting sentences with 'In the third table' and 'In conclusion'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when referring to 'the other two tables' and 'the first table' without clearly distinguishing the data sets. The flow between sentences is disjointed, making the report feel like a list of observations rather than a cohesive summary. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear focus would help the reader follow your analysis more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on basic descriptors like 'enormous increase' and 'significantly decreased'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'describes the data of New York's city population changes' and 'in different percentages'. The phrasing is often repetitive, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or collocations related to data interpretation. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary, such as 'dramatic surge', 'proportionate decline', or 'fluctuations', and ensure your terminology is used accurately in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'the other two tables provides' (subject-verb agreement error), 'in first table' (missing article), and 'all five district's population' (incorrect plural possessive). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and proofreading for basic punctuation will significantly improve the clarity and professional tone of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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