Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-25
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)
This table shows the changes in the population of New York city and the changes of population of districts of New York city.
There are three tables the first table shows the changes in the population of newyirk city from 1800 to 2000.In 1800 the popolation of New York city is 79216 and it began to start increasing and it reached to number [redacted phone] in 2000 which is the big total.
The next table demonstrate the up and down ratio in population of Manhattan district of New York.Here the number of population in 1800 was 60515 which is 76% of the total population of New York city.In 1900 the population ratio increase butt the percentage in total population of city decrease,in 2000 the number of population is [redacted phone] which is less than the population in 1900 and the percentage is 19% which is also less than from the previous years.In the last table there was changes in population of other districts of New York.Here we saw the increase in population and percentage as per total population ever year.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the overall population growth and the shifting proportions of the districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the population of Manhattan in 1800 and 2000, you fail to provide a clear comparison of the other four districts, grouping them together vaguely as 'other districts' without citing specific figures. To reach a higher band, you should select key data points for all districts to support your summary. The overview is also missing; a clear summary of the main trends (e.g., the significant growth of the city and the relative decline of Manhattan's share) should be explicitly stated in the introduction or conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'the first table', 'the next table', and 'in the last table'. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the 'other districts', where the reader is left to guess which data points are being referenced. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks logical flow, making the transition between the general city data and the specific district data feel abrupt.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several spelling errors, such as 'newyirk' and 'popolation'. You rely on simple descriptors like 'big total' and 'up and down ratio', which are not appropriate for an academic report. To improve, you should use more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'significant increase', 'proportion', 'fluctuation', or 'accounted for'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and the repetition of basic words hinders the sophistication of the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'it began to start increasing' is redundant, and 'the population ratio increase butt the percentage... decrease' contains both spelling and tense errors. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage (e.g., 'the number of population'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a lack of control over complex structures, keeping the score in the lower range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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