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 first table illustrate the changing happened in New York City regarding total population between 1800 to 2000. The second and third represent the population population of the five districts of the city between 1800 to 2000.
Overall, population of New York has been increased significantly through out the given period. While the population of Manhattan steadily declined . Whereas, Others districts experienced consistent rise in the population.
Regrading total population, New York has 79,216 residence in 1800 which rose to 3,437,202 in 19000 and number further jumped to 8,009,185 by 2000. On other hand, Manhattan`s population stood at 60,515 in 1800 made up 76% of total population before declining to 1,850,093 in 1900 accounted for 54% of total population and further decreased dramatically to 1,538,096 by 2000 covering only 19% of total population.
Other districts, starting with 18,701 in 1800 with 24% rose to 1,587,109 with 46% of total population in 1900. The most significant growth happened in 2000 the population surged to 6,471,089 made up the highest proportion of 81%.
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 all parts of the task by summarizing the total population and the trends for the five districts. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the overall growth of NYC and the contrasting decline in Manhattan's proportion of the population. However, the analysis is slightly hampered by some inaccuracies in data reporting, such as the typo '19000' for 1900. Additionally, while you mention the five districts, you group them as 'Other districts' rather than naming them or providing a more nuanced breakdown of their individual contributions. To reach a higher band, ensure data is transcribed accurately and provide a more detailed comparison of the specific district trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. There is a clear progression of ideas from the general city-wide trends to the specific district data. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the sentence fragment 'Whereas, Others districts experienced consistent rise in the population.' The transition between the total population data and the district-specific data could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences are complete and grammatically connected will help improve the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'significantly,' 'steadily declined,' and 'surged.' However, there are some noticeable errors in word choice and form, such as 'changing happened' instead of 'changes that occurred' and 'residence' instead of 'residents.' The repetition of the word 'population' is also frequent, which limits the sophistication of your lexical range. To improve, try to use synonyms or paraphrasing to avoid repetition and pay closer attention to word forms (e.g., noun vs. verb usage) to ensure your writing sounds more natural and precise.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The first table illustrate'), missing articles ('on other hand'), and incorrect preposition usage ('in 1800 to 2000'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of backticks instead of standard apostrophes. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on basic sentence construction, article usage, and proofreading for typos will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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