Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-29

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 changes in the the total number of population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The remaning tables shows changes in the five districts of the city regarding populatioin over the same time period.

Overall, it is can be clearly seen that there is a huge increase in the number of populkation in the New York City during the time period of 1800 to 2000. While, among the districts the four districts are among the major popolation of the New York City in 2000.

First table shows that in 1800 the number of population among all districts is 79,216. While, in the 2000 there is a huge increase in the population can be seen the figures increased from 17,216 to 8,009,185 which is a drastic increase.

Secondaly, the remaning second and third tables shows the number of population among the five different districts. In Manhattan the population is 60,515 in the 1800 year which holds about 76 percent of the total population but this ration decrease to 19 percent in 2000. Furthermore, amomg the other four districts this porportion increased from 24 to 81 percent, in 1800 the population in four districts is 18,701 while, in 2000 the number increased to 6,471,089.

Overall, it is clear that the increase in the number of population is shrap and other districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island holds the mojor population of the New York City.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student attempts to address all parts of the prompt by summarizing the main trends from the tables regarding the total population of New York City and its districts between 1800 and 2000. However, there are notable inaccuracies in reporting the data; for instance, the student states in the third paragraph that figures increased 'from 17,216 to 8,009,185', whereas the actual starting figure in 1800 was 79,216. Furthermore, the overview captures the massive overall growth and the shift toward the other four districts, but some of the supporting details are slightly confused. This performance aligns with a Band 5.5 to 6.0 descriptor, where relevant information is presented but contains mechanical errors in data extraction.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is organized into clear paragraphs, including an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs dedicated to different aspects of the visual data. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'Overall', 'First table', and 'Secondaly', though some transitions feel rather mechanical or misused (e.g., 'While, among the districts...'). Paragraphing is present and helps structure the essay logically, but the overall progression of ideas sometimes stumbles due to awkward phrasing and repetitive transitional markers. This corresponds to a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student has an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'population', 'districts', 'percentage', and 'proportion'. However, there are numerous spelling errors throughout the text, including 'remaning' instead of remaining, 'populatpion', 'populkation', 'Secondaly', 'amomg', and 'shrap' instead of sharp. Word choice is occasionally unnatural or imprecise. Because these lexical errors and misspellings occur frequently, they pull the score down into the Band 5.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting relative clauses and comparative structures. However, grammar and punctuation control is weak, with frequent comma splices, awkward phrasing (e.g., 'it is can be clearly seen'), and tense inconsistencies. For example, 'the remaining tables shows' lacks subject-verb agreement, and sentences frequently start with unnecessary conjunctions like 'While,'. Errors are frequent enough to cause some minor difficulty for the reader, fitting the Band 5.0 descriptors.

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

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