Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-11
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 represents New York total population from 1800 to 2000. The folllowing two table depicts the population of the five districts of the city over the same duration. At a glance, New York city is the most populated city.
the population of New York in year 1800 was 79,216 and it showed a growth in 1900 with 3,437,202 and then population rapidly increased in the following centuery with 8,009,185. Furthermore, Manhattan was leading total population with 76% in year 1800 which reduced in year 1900 and in 2000, with 54% and 19% respectively.
Where as other districts as Brooklyn ,Bronx, Queens and Staten Island showed completly opposite trend from Manhattan. it showes a upward trend as population increased from 18,701 to 1,587,109 in year 1900. And the significant growth of total population in year 2000 was seen with 81%.
Overall, New York remained most populated city among all across all the centuery. Where as Manhattan and other four districts showed opposite trend in population growth.
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, such as the overall population growth and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the statement that Manhattan 'reduced' from 76% to 19% is accurate, but the explanation of the other districts is slightly confusing, as it groups them together without clearly distinguishing their individual contributions. The summary of the trends is present, but the data reporting lacks precision in places, such as the vague reference to an '81%' growth in 2000, which does not clearly align with the provided table figures. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately interpreted and clearly linked to the specific years mentioned.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and an overview. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'Where as' is used incorrectly at the start of sentences, and the transition between the description of Manhattan and the other districts is abrupt. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the use of 'it' in 'it showes a upward trend', where the antecedent is ambiguous. While the overall progression of ideas is discernible, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the occasional misuse of punctuation hinder the flow of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe trends (e.g., 'upward trend', 'rapidly increased'). However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'folllowing', 'centuery', and 'showes', which detract from the quality of the writing. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive; for instance, the word 'population' is used frequently without synonyms. To improve, the student should focus on using a wider variety of descriptive verbs and nouns related to data analysis and ensure greater accuracy in spelling and word formation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('two table depicts'), missing articles ('in year 1800'), and incorrect preposition usage. The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of commas and the capitalization of 'Where as' at the start of sentences. While the meaning remains clear despite these errors, the frequency of mistakes prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common grammatical slips would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.