Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-09

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 a total of three tables, which shows the total changes in average of people living in New York over the period of 1800 to 2000. The other two tables show the changes over the same years in the five districts of the city, which includes: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.

Overall, it is clear from the information given in the table that the total population of New York has been increased over the three year period. If we compare the cities, it can be seen that the city of New York, Manhattan has a decrease in the total population in 2000 from 1800 but the other districts show an increase in the percentage of the total population.

If the look into the details, there was a total population of 8,009,185 in the 2000s in Yew York, which as can be seen or analyzed, is an increased number then in the 1800s and 1900s which was as stated, 79,216 and 3,437,202. Here it can be observed that the number increased gradually.

If we dive into the percentage of the population in Manhattan and the other five districts of New York, we observe a decreasing percentage from 76% in the 1800s to 19% in the 2000s , so there has been alot of decrease in the population in Manhattan. While the other districts show an increasing ladder from 24% in 1800 , 46% in 1900 and then a huge increase as 81% in the 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the data, such as the overall 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 'the other districts' lacks specific detail regarding the individual growth of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, which are provided in the tables. The comparison is also slightly inaccurate in its phrasing, such as stating the population 'has been increased' (passive voice error) and referring to the 'three year period' when the data spans two centuries. To improve, ensure you explicitly mention the specific data points for the other districts to provide a more comprehensive summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'If we compare', and 'While', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'If the look into the details' (should be 'If we look') and 'increasing ladder'. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for the task, but the internal cohesion within the body paragraphs could be strengthened by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'average of people' instead of 'population', 'increased number then' (should be 'than'), and 'increasing ladder' to describe a trend. The student relies on basic descriptors like 'huge increase' and 'alot of decrease'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary, such as 'significant decline', 'steady growth', or 'proportionate shift', and ensure correct word forms are used consistently throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader, such as 'total of three tables, which shows' (subject-verb agreement), 'has been increased' (incorrect passive voice), and 'increased number then in the 1800s' (confusing 'then' with 'than'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are minor errors, such as the spacing before the comma in '2000s ,'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage would significantly improve the accuracy.

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

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