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)
The first table provide a data about changes in total population of the New York city from 1800 to 2000.There are other two tables that provide information of same three years among the five districts of city such as Manhattan , Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens , Staten island.
Overall it is evident, population of the New York city has increased drastically over the period of time. Similar trend of rose significantly population and share is evident in other districts. Further more In Manhattan the population and share decreased in the early 20th century.
Looking at the details, population of tNew York city rose significantly from 79216 to [redacted phone] during the year 1800 to 2000 respectively. Moreover, population in Manhattan increased from 60515 in year 1800 to [redacted phone] in year 1900 but after that decreased to [redacted phone] in the early 20th century similar fluctuation can be observed in shares from 765 to 19% respectively. However dramatically increased in the population of other district can be observed from 18701 to [redacted phone] and shares from 24% to 81% during the time period between 1800 - 2000 respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the specific fluctuations in Manhattan. However, the data reporting is inconsistent and contains inaccuracies. For instance, the text mentions 'the same three years' when the tables cover a 200-year span, and the interpretation of the percentage share for Manhattan is confusingly phrased as '765 to 19%'. While the main features are identified, the lack of precision in reporting the data from the tables prevents a higher score. The summary of the other districts is also somewhat vague, grouping them together rather than highlighting distinct differences.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and a details section. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Further more In Manhattan' and 'similar fluctuation can be observed' are used, but the flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the percentages. While there is a clear progression of ideas, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the repetitive structure of the sentences limit the effectiveness of the cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'drastically over the period of time' and 'similar trend of rose significantly population'. The student attempts to use academic vocabulary like 'evident' and 'fluctuation', but these are not always used in the correct context. Spelling errors, such as 'tNew York', also detract from the overall quality. To improve, the student should focus on collocations and more precise terminology for describing statistical trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include missing articles ('the New York city'), incorrect verb forms ('The first table provide'), and punctuation errors. Some sentences are poorly constructed, making them difficult to follow, such as 'However dramatically increased in the population of other district can be observed'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher band level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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