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 portrays the total people who reside in the New York city from the year 1800 till 2000 .Moreover, the second and third table depicts
the total population of more five districts of the city like Manhattan , Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, State Island for the same years. Noticeably , the population got increased from 1800 to 2000.
In the first table it is noticed that total population of all five districts of New York city. in the year 1800 the population was least with 79,216 which was least. Furthermore , the masses got rose to 3,437,202 which was almost four time more than in year 1800. In 2000 , the population was highest which was around 8,099,185.
In addition to this, in Manhattans the population in 1800 was 60,515 which was around 76%. whereas the population in other districts was around 24%. residence of Manhattan rose to 1.850,096(54%) in 1900 and 1,538,096(19%) in 2000. However the population got rise in 1900 and 2000 which was [redacted phone] and 6,471,089 respectively, which was 81%.
Overall, the population was least in 1800s and highest in 2000.
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 from Manhattan to other districts. However, the analysis is hampered by significant inaccuracies in reporting the data. For example, you state the 2000 population was 8,099,185, but the table shows 8,008,278. Furthermore, the description of the district percentages is confusing and mathematically inconsistent with the provided tables. While you identify the main trends, the lack of precision in data reporting and the failure to clearly compare the districts throughout the period prevent a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is often interrupted by awkward phrasing and unclear referencing. For instance, the transition 'In addition to this, in Manhattans' is followed by data that is difficult to interpret. Cohesive devices are used, but they are sometimes mechanical or misused, such as the repetitive use of 'which was' to connect clauses. The overall flow is somewhat disjointed, making it difficult to follow the comparison between the districts effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'total people who reside' instead of 'total population' and 'masses got rose' instead of 'population increased'. You also struggle with numerical formatting, using periods instead of commas (e.g., '1.850,096'), which is confusing. While you attempt to use some descriptive language, the range is limited and the errors in word choice and number representation are noticeable.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('the second and third table depicts'), incorrect verb tenses ('population got increased'), and punctuation errors (e.g., spaces before commas). The use of complex structures is often faulty, which can impede the clarity of the information presented. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction is a significant weakness.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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