Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-13
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 charts illustrate the information about the population of New York City and show the population distribution between Manhattan and the other four districts in 1800, 1900 and 2000.
Overall , the total population of New York city increased considerably over the period .while manhattan accounted for the majority of the city population in 1800 and 1900 , then its proportion declined substantially by 2000. when the other four districts become the dominant population center.
In 1800, New York city add a total population of 79,216 of which 60,515 (76%) lived in manhattan. Buy 1900The city's population had risen dramatically at 3,437,202 , while the population Manhattan increased 1,850,093 .However, by 2000, the total population had continued to go to 8,009,185 Manhattan population had fallen to 1,538,096 and accounting for 19% of total population.
A different trend can be seen in the other 4 districts.Their population increased from just 18,701(24%) in 1800 to 1,587,109 (46%) in 1900. This\nGrowth became even more significant by 2000 , when their population reached 6,471,089 representing 81% of Newc York city , total population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response successfully identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the population shifts in New York City. You have effectively selected key data points to support your comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the response contains some inaccuracies in data reporting; for instance, you state the population of Manhattan in 1900 was 1,850,093, whereas the table indicates 1,850,093 is the population of the 'Other' districts, not Manhattan. Additionally, the phrasing 'when the other four districts become the dominant population center' is slightly imprecise as it refers to a past state. Despite these minor data misinterpretations, the main features are clearly highlighted and the task requirements are met.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However' and 'A different trend', which assist in linking ideas. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and there are issues with punctuation and sentence structure that occasionally disrupt the flow, such as the run-on sentence in the third paragraph: 'Buy 1900The city's population had risen dramatically at 3,437,202 , while the population Manhattan increased 1,850,093'. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring consistent paragraph structure would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'considerably', 'substantially', 'proportion', and 'significant'. There are, however, several errors in word choice and spelling that detract from the quality of the writing, such as 'Buy' instead of 'By', 'Newc York' instead of 'New York', and 'add' instead of 'had'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a wider range of precise academic vocabulary to reach a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with verb tense consistency ('become' instead of 'became'), preposition usage ('at' instead of 'to'), and missing articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these errors limits the score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately without missing auxiliary verbs.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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