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 provides the information about changes in the total population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. The other two tables shows the population changes of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same time period.
Overall, there is a significant increase in the population of New York City between the year 1800 and 2000. In the second table there is a significant shift in the population of Manhattan from Year 1800 to 2000 and a substantial decrease in the percentage of total population. Futhermore, there is a substantial increase in the population and percentage of total population of the other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island).
In 1800 the population of New York, Manhattan and Other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) was 79,216, 60,515 and 18,701. The percentage (%) of total population of Manhattan and Other districts was 76% and 24%.
Conversely, the population increased in 1900 and 2000 of New york city, Manhattan and other districts. In 1900 the population of New york city, Manhattan and other districts was 3,437,202, 1,850,093 and 1,587,109. Futhermore in 2000 the population was 8,009,185, 1,538,096 and 6,471,089.
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 covers the main features of the data, such as the overall population growth and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the figures for 1800, 1900, and 2000, you do not fully exploit the data to make meaningful comparisons. For instance, the significant decline in Manhattan's percentage share is noted, but the specific trends within the 'other districts' could be more clearly contrasted. The report is accurate in its selection of data, but it lacks a more nuanced synthesis of the trends over the two-century period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'Furthermore', and 'Overall' helps to guide the reader. However, the progression of ideas is slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the transition between the general population trends and the specific district data could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed data analysis, which helps the overall readability of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication of the data. You use some appropriate terms like 'significant shift', 'substantial decrease', and 'total population'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive, particularly with the frequent use of 'population' and 'significant'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more varied synonyms and precise collocations related to data trends, such as 'dramatic surge', 'proportionate share', or 'fluctuated'. Spelling is generally accurate, though 'Futhermore' contains a typo.
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 'The other two tables shows' (subject-verb agreement) and 'the population increased in 1900 and 2000 of New york city' (awkward phrasing/preposition usage). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Punctuation is generally handled well, but the sentence structure could be more varied to demonstrate greater control over complex grammatical forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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