Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-15
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 illustrates the population changes in New York City over two centuries, from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show the contribution to the population of five New York districts over the same period.
Overall, New York City had the smallest population in 1800 of 79,216. However, the population rose significantly to 3,437,202 in 1900. In the year 2000, the population reached a record high of 8,009,185.
As per Tables 2 and 3, the population changes in five districts of the city are recorded. Firstly, Manhattan contributed 76% of the total population in 1800, which is 60,515. Furthermore, the population increased to 1,850,093, but the percentage contribution to the total population decreased. For the year 2000, a slight decline of around 3 lakhs in the population was recorded, resulting lowest in terms of contribution of population of the city.
By contrast, other districts such as Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island reported similar numbers. The population in 1800 was the lowest at 18,701, accounting for 24%, which increased gradually to 1,5587,109 and 6,471,089 over two centuries. In addition, the percentage of the total population also increased in the four cities.
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
You have successfully identified the main trends in the population data. You provided a clear overview and selected key data points to support your description. However, there are some inaccuracies in your reporting of the data. For instance, you mention a 'slight decline of around 3 lakhs' for Manhattan in 2000, but the table shows a significant increase from 1800 to 2000. Additionally, your grouping of the four districts as 'other districts' is a bit vague, and the figures provided for these districts (e.g., '1,5587,109') contain typographical errors that make the data difficult to interpret accurately. To improve, ensure you double-check your transcriptions of the figures and provide more precise comparisons between the districts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific data sets. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'By contrast', and 'In addition' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas within the second body paragraph is slightly confusing due to the way the data for the four districts is aggregated. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the percentage contributions. Improving the clarity of your transitions and ensuring that the data points are clearly linked to the specific districts would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'contribution', and 'record high'. However, there are some issues with word choice and precision. The use of 'lakhs' is not standard in IELTS Academic writing, which typically uses millions or thousands. There are also some awkward phrasings, such as 'resulting lowest in terms of contribution'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoid non-standard numerical units. Ensure that your vocabulary is consistently appropriate for a formal report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues. For example, 'the population increased to 1,850,093, but the percentage contribution to the total population decreased' is a well-structured sentence, but 'resulting lowest in terms of contribution of population' is grammatically awkward. There are also errors in number formatting, such as '1,5587,109', which is likely a typo. To improve, focus on proofreading for minor errors and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed with greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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