Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-10
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 initial table depict the changes in the population of New York city. whereas, the second and third tabular representation exhibit the alter in population in five district such as Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten island between the period from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the highest population was recorded in 2000, while in 1800 this figure was lower in the New York. however, the percentage of population in Manhattan was more in 1800 as compared to 2000. in other districts the figure reached at peak point in 2000.
It can be vividly seen that the total population in the whole New York city in 1800 was 79,216. further it increased to 3,437,202 in 1900. finally, in 2000, the figure was twice as compared to previous years.
Moving towards the rest of the information in Manhattan, the proportion of population stood at 76% in 1800. The percentile during 1900 and 2000 in same district was 54% and 19% respectively. on the other hand, the total of other places in 1800 was 24% and became double in 1900., followed by 2000 the figure reached at the highest peak point with approximately 81%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the total population growth and the shift in population distribution across the districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, the statement that the population in 2000 was 'twice as compared to previous years' is inaccurate based on the provided figures (3,437,202 to 8,008,278 is not a simple doubling). Additionally, the report lacks a clear comparison between the specific districts beyond Manhattan and the 'other' category. While the main trends are identified, the lack of precision in reporting the data and the failure to fully integrate the district-specific data points limit the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'Moving towards the rest of the information' is somewhat awkward, and the use of 'whereas' at the start of the first paragraph is grammatically incorrect. There is also an issue with punctuation, such as the period placed before a comma in '1900.,'. While the overall progression is clear, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the occasional misuse of referencing make the flow feel somewhat disjointed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'tabular representation exhibit the alter' (should be 'show the change') and 'percentile' (used incorrectly to mean 'percentage'). The phrasing 'reached at peak point' is repetitive and unnatural. While the student attempts to use some academic vocabulary, the inaccuracies in collocation and word form prevent a higher score. The range is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Common issues include missing articles ('in New York city'), incorrect verb forms ('The initial table depict'), and capitalization errors (e.g., 'Staten island'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary commas and periods placed incorrectly. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be distracting and demonstrate a lack of control over complex structures. More attention to subject-verb agreement and basic sentence mechanics is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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