Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-26
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 tabular chart demonstrates the information regarding variations in total density of New York city from 1800 to 2000. The another two tables illustrates the variations in population of five districts of the city over the same period.
Overall, it is evident that population was the highest in New York and all other districts in year 1900.
In detail, after analyzing the given tables, it is crystal clear that the population was the highest in 1900, which was accounted for 3,437,202. In 1800, the density was about 79,216 and was 8,009,185 in 2000 in New York city.
Moving to the next tables, in Manhattan the population was 60,515, 1,850,093, 1,538,096 in 1800, 1900 and 2000 correspondingly. While in other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island) the population was accounted for 18,701 in 1800, 1,587,109 in 1900 and was 6,471,089 in 2000.
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 score. While the student attempts to summarise the data, the analysis is superficial. The overview provided is inaccurate, as the population did not peak in 1900; the data shows a consistent increase up to 2000. Furthermore, the grouping of all other districts into one category in the final paragraph ignores the specific data provided for individual districts like the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, leading to an incomplete report of the main features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the phrase 'The another two tables'. Transitions between sentences are basic, and the lack of clear comparison between the districts makes the information difficult to follow. The structure is somewhat repetitive, and the connection between the total population table and the district-specific tables is not clearly articulated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student incorrectly uses the term 'density' instead of 'population' throughout the text. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'accounted for' being used incorrectly in a passive construction. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate precision, and the reliance on basic descriptors prevents the response from achieving a higher band. More variety in reporting verbs and numerical descriptors is needed.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. Subject-verb agreement is inconsistent, for example, 'The another two tables illustrates'. There are also awkward phrasings such as 'was accounted for 3,437,202'. While some simple sentences are error-free, the attempt at more complex structures often leads to errors in tense or preposition usage. Punctuation is generally functional, but the overall control of grammar is limited to basic sentence patterns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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