Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-27
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 information about the all population which changes from 1800 to 2000 in new york city and the other second provides information about the population lived in five districts of the city
(Manhattan,Brooklym,Bronx,Queeens,Staten Island) which were changed in similar period.
The highest population change occur in 2000 in New York City.The population were increased of all districts as percentage of total population except Manhattan.
To illustrste the first table ,the year 1800 contains the lowest number of population.the population were increased on 1900 and comes on [redacted phone].The year 2000 shows the highest change in population and the population comes on [redacted phone].
the second table tells about the information of five districts.The all districts shows the icrease in percentage of total population except Manhattan.Its percentage is in 76 percent in 1800 , 54 percent in 1900 amd 19 percent in 2000.the all remaining districts have 24 percent in 1800,46 percent in 1900 and 81 percent in 2000.in 2000 they shownthe highest change.
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 addresses the task by summarizing the population changes in NYC and its districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identified the overall growth and the decline in Manhattan's percentage, the report lacks a clear overview of the trends. You mention 'the highest population change occur in 2000', but this is slightly ambiguous as it refers to the total population figure rather than a rate of change. To reach a higher band, ensure you clearly highlight the most significant trends and make more precise comparisons between the districts, rather than just listing figures. The data interpretation is generally accurate, but the presentation of the main features could be more analytical.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical flow is hindered by repetitive phrasing and a lack of sophisticated cohesive devices. Transitions between sentences are often mechanical or missing, such as the abrupt start to the final paragraph. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the 'remaining districts'. While the progression of ideas is present, the use of linking words is limited, and the paragraphing could be more effectively used to separate the general population trends from the specific district data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher levels. There are several spelling errors, such as 'illustrste', 'Brooklym', 'Queeens', and 'icrease'. Additionally, the phrasing is often repetitive, relying heavily on simple structures like 'the population were increased' or 'the year 2000 shows'. To improve, you should aim to use a wider variety of verbs and nouns related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'accounted for', or 'experienced a significant rise'. The current range is sufficient to convey the basic meaning but is limited in its sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the population were increased', 'the all districts shows') and article usage (e.g., 'the all population'). The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and incorrect capitalization. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and that articles are used correctly before nouns. Increasing the variety of sentence structures would also help improve the overall quality.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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