Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-14
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 three tables compare about the total population of New York City and other five districts of the city from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the population of New York City significantly increased over the period. Regarding other five districts, Manhattan recorded the highest population in 1800, while other four districts became leading cities in 2000.
In 2000, New York City recorded the highest population figure at 8,009,185, followed by in 1900 at 3,437,202. In 1800 city recorded the lowest population figure at 79,216.
In case of other five cities, Manhattan accounted for the highest proportion at 60,515 in 1800, with proportion of 76% of total population, whereas other four districts Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island represented 18,701, which accounted for 24% of total population. In 2000, other four cities became leading cities with population of 6,47,089, which showed 81% of total population, while Manhattan recorded at 1,538,096.In 1900, Manhattan and other four cities recorded at 1,850,093 and 1,587,109 respectively.
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, including the overall growth of New York City and the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other four districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you correctly identify the total population growth and the shift in proportions, the comparison between the districts could be more detailed. For instance, you mention the 1900 figures but do not fully explain the significance of the trends observed. The data is presented accurately, but the report lacks a more analytical approach to the 'main features' required for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific data sets. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall', 'In 2000', and 'whereas', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'In case of other five cities', which is slightly awkward. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for a basic description of the trends. You use terms like 'significantly increased', 'recorded the highest population', and 'accounted for the highest proportion'. However, there is a lack of variety and precision. Phrases like 'other four cities became leading cities' are repetitive and slightly imprecise. There are also some minor errors in expression, such as 'compare about the total population', which should be 'compare the total population'. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more sophisticated collocations and avoid repeating the same sentence structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'followed by in 1900 at 3,437,202' is grammatically awkward, and 'In 1800 city recorded' is missing an article ('the city'). Additionally, the number formatting '6,47,089' is inconsistent with standard English conventions. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You should focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct article usage throughout your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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