Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-04

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)

These tables compares the population of New York City between 1800 and 2000 with the interval of 100 years, and further precisely it compares population growth between its five districts.

Overall population of New York City increased very much between these years. In 2000 its population has increased by a factor of 10X.

In 1800 Manhattan districts contribute significantly by contribution 76% of total polutation but its population start decreasing in 1900 it drops to 54% and at last it become 19% in 2000.

However other four districts observe positive population rate in 1800 it contributes only 24% of total population, in 1900 it becomes equal with Manhatton by contributing 46% and in 2000 it overcomes Manhattan by providing 81% of total population of New York.

Overall Manhattan faces downfall and other four district obseves positive population rate.

AI examiner evaluation

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 you have identified the main trends—the growth of the total population and the shift in distribution from Manhattan to the other four districts—the analysis is underdeveloped. You have not included specific data points for the total population figures (e.g., 1800 vs 2000) or provided a more nuanced comparison of the individual districts. The summary is too brief to fully address all parts of the task, and the lack of sufficient detail prevents a higher band score. To improve, ensure you include more supporting data and extend your analysis of the trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into a brief introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs, which provides a basic logical structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and somewhat mechanical. Phrases like 'at last it become' and 'however other four districts' are used to transition, but the flow between sentences is often abrupt. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to the 'other four districts' as a collective group without specifying which ones. To improve, use a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You rely on repetitive phrasing such as 'contributes' and 'population'. There are also errors in word choice and form, such as 'further precisely' (should be 'more precisely') and '10X' (which is informal). The use of 'overcomes' to describe population growth is also slightly unnatural in this context. To improve, focus on using more academic synonyms and collocations related to data description, such as 'accounted for', 'experienced a surge', or 'surpassed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'These tables compares' (subject-verb agreement error), 'its population start decreasing' (tense error), and 'other four district obseves' (pluralization and spelling errors). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and verb tenses when describing historical data. Incorporating more complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or participial phrases, would also help demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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

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