Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-04
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 illustrations given display an overall trend that is the immense increase in the population of New York City over the course of two centuries. Additionally, information about the other districts within the city is given, namely Manhattan.
Throughout the years, the population of New York City skyrocketed, seeing its greatest jump between 1900 and 2000 as it gains approximately five million residents and civilians. That is the equivalent of about one hundred times its population in 1800. However, statistics across several districts show the changes among the populations of many divisions of the city.
Though the population of Manhattan grew simultaneously as New York City gained traction, it made up less and less of the total population overtime, seeing a fall of about 60% within the nation. This is due to the rapid rise in the populations of other districts, eventually displaying dominance within the population of New York City. Over a period of 200 years, other districts gained an additional 6 million residents, equating to a 52% rise in the total population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a general overview but fails to adequately report the data for all five districts. While it mentions Manhattan and 'other districts', it neglects to provide specific data points for Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island, which are clearly presented in the tables. The comparison is also slightly inaccurate, as the claim that Manhattan saw a 'fall of about 60% within the nation' is confusing and lacks a clear basis in the provided data. To reach a higher band, you must systematically report the key figures for each category provided in the prompt rather than grouping them into vague summaries.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is hindered by the lack of specific data to support the claims. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Additionally' and 'Throughout the years', but the connection between sentences is sometimes weak due to the unclear interpretation of the statistics. The referencing is occasionally confusing, particularly in the third paragraph where the relationship between Manhattan's population and the 'nation' is unclear. More precise signposting would improve the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated language like 'skyrocketed' and 'gained traction'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as using 'civilians' to describe residents, which is not contextually appropriate. The phrase 'displaying dominance' is also slightly unnatural in this context. While the range is sufficient to convey the main message, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. Improving the accuracy of collocations would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'overtime' (which should be 'over time') and the awkward phrasing 'grew simultaneously as New York City gained traction'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the general intent, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and using prepositions correctly. The sentence structures are functional but lack the variety and error-free control expected at higher levels.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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