Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-17
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 depicts the changes in total population of New York city in era of 1800 to 2000. The other two tables give information about changes in population of five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) of the same city and period.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that overall population of all districts of New York city increased in the period of 3 years but other tables show the percentage population of each separate district in comparison to total population.
To begin, New York city had 79, 216population in 1800 and still increased from 3,437,202 in 1900 to 8,009,185 in 2000.
In among districts, Individually, Manhattan had 76%population in 1800, 1,850,093 in 1900 which made 54% and 1,538,096 in 2000 which made 19% in comparison to total population.
In other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island), 24% population in 1800, 46% in 1900 and 81% in 2000.
In conclusion, % population is decreased in Manhattan district while in other districts, %population is increased in comparison to total population of New York city.
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
The response covers the main features of the data, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. You correctly identify the overall population growth and the shift in percentage distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the report lacks precision in data presentation; for instance, the claim that the population increased over a 'period of 3 years' is factually incorrect based on the provided data (1800–2000). Furthermore, the grouping of all other districts into a single category in the final paragraph is a bit simplistic. To improve, ensure you accurately interpret the timeframes and provide more specific comparisons between the individual districts rather than just grouping them together.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'In among districts, Individually'. The transition between the total population data and the district-specific percentages is abrupt. While there is a clear attempt at an introduction, body, and conclusion, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') to connect ideas more fluidly rather than relying on simple sentence starters.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic phrasing like 'depicts the changes' and 'give information about'. There are also some issues with word formation and collocation, such as '79, 216population' (missing space) and 'In among districts'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'witnessed a significant surge', 'accounted for', or 'experienced a downward trend'. The repetition of 'population' and 'percentage' also limits the lexical range.
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 impede clarity. Examples include 'in era of 1800 to 2000' (missing article), '79, 216population' (spacing error), and 'In among districts'. The sentence 'In conclusion, % population is decreased' uses passive voice incorrectly; it should be 'the percentage of the population decreased'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors—particularly with articles, prepositions, and sentence construction—prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.