Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-07
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 the variation of the population of New York City for a span of 200 years. The other two tables provide information about the changing population of the five districts in the New York City from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the total population of New York City increased significantly over the years. In addition, in Manhattan a declining slope could be seen in the percentage of total population while in the other districts a rising percentage was seen.
Firstly, the total population in New York City rose dramatically over the period from 79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000. the population in the city had experienced an increasing number over the years.
Secondly, Manhattan experienced a fell in their percentage from 76% in 1800 to 19% in 2000 whereas in the population number it fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000. On contrast, the other districts climbed over the years from 24% in 1800 to 81% in 2000 in terms of percentage and 18,701 in 1800 to 6,471,089 in 2000 on the basis of number of residents.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the total population growth and the shift in percentage distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the mention of 'a declining slope' is vague, and the report lacks a more detailed comparison of the specific growth rates of the other districts. While the key trends are identified, the data selection could be more precise to better illustrate the contrast between the early 19th century and the end of the 20th century. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the most significant shifts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'In addition', and 'whereas' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as in the second body paragraph where the connection between the percentage shift and the raw number shift could be smoother. Despite these minor issues, the progression of ideas is clear throughout the response, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'variation', 'significantly', and 'declining slope'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'experienced a fell' (should be 'experienced a fall') and 'on contrast' (should be 'in contrast'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. To improve, the student should focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring that word forms are used correctly in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'the population in the city had experienced an increasing number' (awkward phrasing) and 'the population number it fell' (redundant pronoun). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though there are minor issues with capitalization at the start of sentences. The errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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