Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-02

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 table illustrates the changes in population of New York and its five district city over the year of 1800 to 2000.

The overall analysis of all five district show that 2000 had the highest population recorded and in year 1800 the lowest number of population was recorded.

The second table represent the city of Manhattan and it is seen that with years the population has increased going from 60,515 in 1800 to 1,538,096 in 2000. But the percentage shows the opposite trend as it decreases over the years. The percentage went from 76% in 1800 and dropped to 19% in 2000.

In the third table data of other four district city Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island is shown. The same pattern is followed as the number of population increases from 18,701 in 1800 to 6,471,089 in 2000 just in a spam of three years. the percentage also goes up from 24% in 1800 to 81% in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a basic overview of the data, but it fails to address the first table regarding the total population of New York City, focusing only on the breakdown of the districts. While the main trends are identified, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The statement that the population increased 'in a spam of three years' is factually incorrect based on the provided data (which spans two centuries), indicating a lack of careful data interpretation. To improve, ensure all provided tables are addressed and that data points are accurately transcribed and interpreted.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'The second table', 'In the third table'). The progression of ideas is logical, but the connection between sentences could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, though the transition between the general population trends and the specific district data could be better integrated to improve the overall flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are some awkward word choices, such as 'district city' and 'in a spam of three years', which detract from the professional tone required for an Academic Task 1 report. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on basic descriptors like 'increased' and 'decreased'. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'surged', or 'accounted for'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The overall analysis... show') and incorrect article usage ('in year 1800'). Additionally, there are punctuation errors, such as the lack of a capital letter at the start of the final sentence. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of control over more complex grammatical forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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