Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-07
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 illustrates the figures about the total population of New York City from the year 1800 to 2000. Other two tables display the numbers for the five districts for the same time period with the how much contribution in total population.
Overall, numbers rose exponentially from start to end for the first table. Second and third table have some odd figures such as increased number of population with decreased percentage for contribution in total population.
In the first table, population accounted for 79,216 in the year 1800, which increased to 3,437,202 in 1900. Finally, in 2000 the figure rose to more than the double of the figure in the year 1900. Overall, numbers rose exponentially over given period.
In second table, population was 60,515 in the year 1800 in Manhattan, whereas the figure was 76% of total population. However, in the year 2000, Manhattan had population of 1,538,096, while this figure was only 19% of total population. In third table, datan is given for other cities which was the opposite of city Manhattan. In 2000, population figure was 6,471,089, which was 81% of total population.
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 provides a general overview and selects some key data points, but it fails to fully address the task requirements. While it mentions the total population and Manhattan, it neglects to provide a comprehensive summary of the other four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island), which are essential components of the provided tables. The analysis is somewhat superficial, and the grouping of the other four districts into a single category labeled 'other cities' is inaccurate and misleading. To achieve a higher band, you must report on all key features presented in the data rather than focusing only on selected parts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is basic and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'In the first table' and 'In second table'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to the 'other cities' in the final paragraph, which creates confusion as the prompt clearly identifies these as districts of New York City. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear transitions between sentences would enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher score. You rely on simple descriptors like 'figures', 'numbers', and 'rose'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'with the how much contribution' and 'datan is given'. To improve, you should aim to use more sophisticated vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'surged', 'fluctuated', or 'proportionate share', and ensure that you use terminology accurately to describe the data provided in the tables.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder clarity. Examples include 'Other two tables' (missing article), 'more than the double of the figure' (awkward phrasing), and 'the figure was 76% of total population' (missing article). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the overall control of grammar is inconsistent. To improve, focus on article usage, subject-verb agreement, and refining complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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