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)
he first table illustrates 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.
Overall, the New york population increased rapidly from 1800 to 2000. In contrast Manhattan percentage of population declined although population increased with slow pace. Unlike Manhattan other five districts percentage of total population increased with double figures.
In 1800 New York population was 79216, and it can raised to [redacted phone] by the end of 1900 and in the end of 2000 it reached to [redacted phone] which is a significant change in population. In 1800 Manhattan district population was 60515 which was the 76% of the total population, and in 1900 it raised to [redacted phone] while the percentage of total population declined 54% and in between 1900 to 2000 population faced slightly declined to [redacted phone] which is the 19% of all the population.
On the other hand all other districts population and the percentage of population increased rapidly. in 1800 population was 18701 and it was the 24% of the total percentage and it increased 46% in 1900 and double 81% by the end of 2000.
In conclusion, New York and other four district population increased with the period of time, but Manhattan faced declined in the percentage of the 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 provides a clear overview and identifies the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the contrasting decline in Manhattan's percentage share. However, the data reporting is inconsistent. For instance, the statement 'it can raised to 3437202' contains a tense error and lacks precision. While the key features are highlighted, the analysis of the other four districts is somewhat grouped together, which obscures the specific performance of individual districts like Brooklyn or Queens. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are cited accurately and that the comparison between the districts is more granular and clearly linked to the provided tables.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, including an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas from the general trend to specific data points. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'and' to connect clauses. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to 'other five districts' or 'other four district', which makes the flow slightly disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'it can raised to' and 'population faced slightly declined'. The student relies on basic descriptors like 'increased rapidly' and 'significant change'. While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there are minor errors in word choice and collocation that prevent a higher score. Incorporating more precise academic terminology related to data trends would improve the lexical quality.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include 'New york population' (missing article), 'it can raised to' (incorrect verb form), and 'population faced slightly declined' (incorrect tense/passive voice). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing commas and capitalization issues (e.g., 'New york'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage, and consistent capitalization of proper nouns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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