Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-22
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)
There are two tables given one representing the population of New York city ranging from the year 1800 to the year 2000 and other city is Manhattan showcasing the population density the same timeline as new york city and at last are five districts including Brooklyn , Bronx , queens and Staten island.
New York city has become the most populated in the year 2000 reaching 8,009,185 it showcases combined population of Brooklyn and the other five districts , Manhattan reached a massive population of 1,538,096 whereas the combined five districts reached the population of 6,471,089 resulting the population of new york city on adding them. The least population density was recorded in 1800 in manhattan only about 60,515(76% of total population) whereas of the other districts was 18,701(24% of total population) combining and reaching 79,216 in total population level of new york city. A quite growth was seen in the year 1900 , Manhattan population reached a sudden 1,850,093(54% of total population) and the other districts population reached 1,587,109 (46% of total population) resulting in total of 3,437,202 of new york city.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by summarizing the main trends in the overall population of New York City and comparing Manhattan with the other districts across the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. Key figures are correctly cited from the visual data, such as the total population in 2000 (8,009,185) and the shifting percentages between Manhattan and the other districts. An overview is present, and the data is selected and reported adequately. However, the expression is at times a bit convoluted, and some relationships between data points are slightly awkwardly phrased, such as referring to 'population density' when the tables clearly display raw population counts. These minor inaccuracies in data interpretation keep the response at Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is arranged into an introduction and a body paragraph, showing a coherent overall arrangement. However, the progression is somewhat hampered by a lack of punctuation and run-on sentences, such as the lengthy second paragraph which crams multiple data points together without adequate separation. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes repetitive or misused, as seen in phrases like 'resulting the population' and 'combining and reaching'. Paragraphing is also rudimentary, with the entire body of data crammed into a single massive paragraph. Referencing is mostly clear, but the lack of clear logical breaks makes the text more difficult to follow than is expected for a Band 6.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with the student successfully reporting numbers and percentages. Attempts are made to use less common vocabulary, such as 'showcasing', 'massive', and 'proportion', but there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as confusing 'population' with 'population density' and awkward phrasing like 'resulting the population of new york city on adding them'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but lexical control is inconsistent, leading to awkward expressions that occasionally impede smooth reading. This places the lexical performance firmly at Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar and punctuation is weak. There is a complete lack of proper sentence boundary punctuation in the second paragraph, resulting in comma splices and run-on sentences (e.g., 'New York city has become the most populated in the year 2000 reaching 8,009,185 it showcases combined population...'). Grammatical errors, such as missing prepositions, incorrect participle forms ('resulting the population'), and tense inconsistencies, occur frequently. While meaning can generally be extracted, these frequent errors cause difficulty for the reader and prevent the response from achieving a Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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