Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-10
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 fluctuations in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000, while the second and third tables demonstrate variations in the population of the five districts of the city over the same period.
Overall, the year 2000 was the most populous among these cities except Manhattan. Although, Manhattan's population in the year 1800 was the lowest among these trends, but its percentage of total population remained highest. In 1800, the population of New York City including all five districts, was 79,216 only. While, it's population in 1900 increased dramatically to 3,437,202, but the year 2000 also showed the same pattern of inclination with more rapid increase to 8,009,185.
Moreover, Manhattan in the year 1800, stood at the lowest population, but consisting 76% of total population. In Manhattan, the year 1900 stood highest at about 1,850,093 with 54% of total population. Meanwhile, in other districts year 2000 remained highest populated with 6,471,089 comprising 81% of total population. While in the year 2000, Manhattan's population dropped significantly to 1,538,096, but its percentage of total population sank to 19% substancially.
In contrast, other districts population in 1900, increased drastically to 1,587,109 from 18,701 in one year, accounting for 46% of total population.
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 shifts in district proportions. However, the analysis is hampered by significant inaccuracies in interpreting the data. For instance, the claim that Manhattan's population in 1800 was the lowest is contradicted by the table, which shows it had the highest population at that time. Additionally, the statement that other districts increased from 18,701 to 1,587,109 'in one year' (between 1800 and 1900) is a misinterpretation of the century-long timeframe. While the main trends are identified, the factual errors regarding the data points prevent a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Meanwhile', and 'In contrast'. However, the logical flow is occasionally disrupted by the factual inaccuracies mentioned in the task achievement section. The use of referencing is sometimes confusing, particularly when discussing 'other districts' versus specific named districts. Paragraphing is present, but the transition between the general city population and the specific district breakdown could be smoother to improve the overall progression of ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with attempts to use descriptive terms like 'fluctuations', 'dramatically', 'inclination', and 'substancially'. However, there are some errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'substancially' (spelled incorrectly) and the misuse of 'inclination' to describe population growth. The phrase 'pattern of inclination' is not a standard collocation in this context. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, it lacks the precision and natural control required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as the misuse of punctuation ('Although, Manhattan's population... but its...'), and issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage ('in other districts year 2000 remained...'). The sentence 'consisting 76% of total population' is grammatically incomplete. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of control over more complex structures, keeping the score in the mid-range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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