Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-28
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 data presents the differences in the total numbers of population in the city of the American In New York between 1800 to 2000. Although second table depicts the proportion of total population in Manhattan. In the Third table data demonstrates the other four Districts of United States of America.
Overall, the population of the New York were increased by every year. However, majority of the population was from Manhattan. In the year of 2000 this data maximum number of people come from other districts.
In the New York city, there were several districts, but total number of population in 1800 was 79,216 in which Manhattan covers the highest proportions 76% almost 60,515 population and the rest of the 18701 from other areas. After that in 1900 more than half proportion of the residences was from Same District and 46% was from other four districts.
In 2000 shows the drastic change where 81% of the percentage was from Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island, 6,471,089 population and only 19% population was from Manhattan.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response attempts to address the task by summarizing the provided tables; however, it fails to accurately interpret the data. For instance, the claim that 'majority of the population was from Manhattan' in 2000 is factually incorrect based on the table, which shows Manhattan at 19%. Furthermore, the description of the data is confusing, particularly the reference to 'other four Districts of United States of America' rather than New York City boroughs. While the main features are identified, the lack of precision in reporting the figures and the misinterpretation of the trends limit the score. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately transcribed and that the comparison between the categories is logically sound.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the awkward transition 'After that in 1900'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to track which data set is being discussed. While there is a logical attempt to move from an overview to specific details, the progression is hindered by grammatical errors and imprecise phrasing. Improving the use of linking words like 'consequently', 'in contrast', or 'furthermore' would help create a more professional flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are noticeable errors in word choice, such as 'residences' used to mean 'residents' and 'proportion of the percentage'. The phrasing 'drastic change' is acceptable, but the overall range is basic. The student struggles with accurate terminology for statistical reporting, often relying on simple descriptors. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise academic vocabulary, such as 'accounted for', 'constituted', or 'witnessed a significant shift', and ensure that terms like 'districts' and 'boroughs' are used correctly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'population... were increased'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'In the year of 2000 this data maximum number of people come from other districts'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with some errors in basic punctuation and capitalization. To improve, the student should focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, as well as practicing more complex sentence structures to demonstrate better control.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.