Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-12
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 given table illustrates the variations in the total residence of New York city from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show changes in the residence of the five districts of the city over the same time.
Overall, the highest total population was in 2000. Manhattan district highest proportion of population was in 1800. Whereas, the highest proportion of other districts was in 2000.
In detail, in Manhattan the total proportion of citizens was 76 percent in year 1800. In 1900 the total population was 1,850,093 and its ratio was 54 percent. In 2000 there was a least ratio of Manhattan was only 19 percent.
In case of other districts Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island. The least ratio of these districts was 24 percent in 1800. The 46 percent population was in 1900 around 1,587,109. After that, the highest proportion was 81 percent in 2000 . It was around 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 trends, such as the total population growth and the shift in proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the 1800, 1900, and 2000 data points, the reporting of figures is occasionally confusing, particularly when distinguishing between percentages and raw numbers. The overview is present but lacks a clear synthesis of the overall trend, focusing instead on listing individual data points. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between the total population figures and the percentage distribution across the districts to avoid ambiguity.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In detail', 'In case of'). The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, making the flow feel disjointed. For instance, the jump between the total population and the specific district data could be smoother with better linking phrases. Paragraphing is used, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved by grouping related information more effectively rather than just listing statistics.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use the word 'ratio' where 'proportion' or 'percentage' would be more accurate, and 'residence' is used incorrectly to mean 'population'. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise collocations. To reach a higher band, try to vary your vocabulary by using terms like 'accounted for', 'constituted', 'witnessed a decline', or 'experienced a surge' to describe the data trends more dynamically.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'Manhattan district highest proportion of population was in 1800' (missing articles and awkward phrasing) and 'there was a least ratio of Manhattan was only 19 percent' (redundant verb usage). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction often feels clunky. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, as these errors occur throughout the text and occasionally hinder the clarity of the information provided.
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.