Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-06
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 three illustrations reflect the volatility in the total number of people living in New York city, Manhattan and one categorized as other districts which include Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island from the period 1800 to 2000.
Overall, Each of them has a significant increase in the population throughout the Centuries. The highest amount of change has been noticed in the New York City and it has completely outnumbered the other in terms of numbers. In contrast Manhattan has shown a modest impact comparatively in the number of people residing in the district.
In 1800 New York has the total populace of 79,216 the highest in any other and it has reached to 8,009,185 in 20th Century. They have shown a great progress throughout the two Centuries, making it the most populated district.
Manhattan in 1800 had 76% of total population living ther
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 ability to fully address the task. While the introduction and overview attempt to summarize the main trends, the analysis is incomplete. The student provides data for 1800 and 2000 for New York City but fails to adequately cover the specific changes in the five individual districts as requested by the prompt. The response ends abruptly mid-sentence, leaving the data analysis unfinished. To improve, ensure all parts of the prompt are covered, including specific comparisons between the districts, and provide a complete summary that meets the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay shows some attempt at logical organization with an introduction, an overview, and the start of a body paragraph. However, the abrupt ending prevents a proper assessment of paragraphing and cohesion. Cohesive devices are used in a basic manner (e.g., 'In contrast', 'In 1800'), but the lack of completion makes the overall progression unclear. To reach a higher band, ensure that ideas are fully developed within well-structured paragraphs and that transitions between sentences and paragraphs are used more consistently to guide the reader through the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. Phrases like 'volatility in the total number' and 'modest impact' are used, though 'volatility' is not the most accurate term for a steady population increase. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'one categorized as other districts' and 'the highest in any other'. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuation', 'substantial growth', or 'proportionate share'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'Each of them has a significant increase' (should be 'there has been'), 'the highest in any other' (should be 'the highest of any'), and 'living ther' (incomplete word). Punctuation and subject-verb agreement need more attention. While the errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring all sentences are complete will help improve this score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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