Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11

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 data provided in first table shows the population of New York City from 1800 to 2000 and in the second and the third table we can see changes in population of the five districts of the same city over the period of time.

First table tells about the overall population of the New York City ,In year 2000 the population is increasing compared to year 1800 and 1900 whereas In 1800 the population was less than the year 1900 and 2000.

A significant rise in population can be seen in year 1900 which was more than year 1800 but less than population of 2000.

The second and third table show population in cites of New York City.

In second table ,the data is about the city Manhattan,

In year 1800 the population of the city was 60,516

Which was 76% of the total population, which in year 1900 population was 1,850,093 which was 54% of the total population compared to 1800 the percentage reduced but the number of people increased.In year 2000 the population was 1,538,096 the population declined and it was only 19% of the total population.

In third table the other cities data was recorded in year 1800 ,the population was 18701 it was 24% of total population, in year 1900 ,[redacted phone] were the population which was 46% ,that shows increment from the previous year.In 2000 the population was highest among all years it was [redacted phone] and it was 84% of the total population. The sudden rise in population can be seen here .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the data, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you correctly identify the overall population growth and the shift in proportions between Manhattan and the other districts, the reporting of figures is occasionally repetitive. You have successfully selected key data points, but the comparison between the districts could be more integrated. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview that highlights the most significant trends—such as the dramatic shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts—rather than simply listing data for each year. The response addresses the prompt, but the lack of a clear, analytical summary limits the depth of the task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by mechanical transitions and repetitive sentence structures. You use basic cohesive devices like 'In year 1800' and 'In third table', which makes the writing feel disjointed. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs is weak, often reading like a list of statistics rather than a cohesive report. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'meanwhile') and ensure that each sentence builds logically upon the previous one to create a smoother narrative flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'population', 'number', and 'year'. There are also some awkward phrasings, such as 'tells about' and 'other cities data', which are not appropriate for an academic report. While you successfully use some numerical data, the lack of varied vocabulary to describe trends (e.g., 'surged', 'plummeted', 'accounted for') prevents a higher score. Focus on incorporating more precise academic collocations to describe statistical changes and avoid repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

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 (e.g., 'in first table'), incorrect preposition usage, and run-on sentences or comma splices (e.g., '60,516 Which was 76%'). Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency also need attention. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors interrupt the flow of the text. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring each sentence has a clear subject and verb, and proofread carefully for punctuation errors.

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

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