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 represents the data regarding variations in the population of New York City from 1800 to 2000 .The second and third tables illustrates the same differences across five districts over same period of time.
Overall, the final underwent a consistent and robust upward trend because of maximum population. Concurrently, least population was recorded in the first year.
Initially, 79216 persons were accounted in 1800 which was significantly lower than both the years and substantial growth was observed in 1900 with 3,437,202 people and year 2000 mirrored this trend by hitting the figure 8,009,185. Furthermore, Manhattan sheltered 60,515 people which was 76% of the total population and followed an upward trend and in 1900 experienced minor fluctuation with 1,850,093 people which was 54% and in 2000 percent plummeted sharply with 19% and population remained 1,538,096.
In addition, other districts included 18,701 residents in 1800 which was 24% and in 1900 population grew steadily to 46% with 1,587,109 people . Ultimately, population rose progressively to peak with 6,471,089 people and hit 81 %.
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 population growth and the shifting proportions of the districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you correctly identify the upward trend, the description of the district data is slightly confusing, particularly when grouping 'other districts' together, which obscures the specific performance of individual boroughs like Brooklyn or Queens. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between the five districts as requested by the prompt rather than grouping them into a single category. The overview is present but could be more precise regarding the specific trends observed across the different time periods.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some referencing is unclear, such as the phrase 'the final underwent a consistent... upward trend', where 'the final' does not clearly refer to the total population. Improving the use of cohesive devices to create smoother transitions between the data points would elevate the score. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed body paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'variations', 'mirrored', 'plummeted', and 'steadily'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'sheltered 60,515 people' (a better choice would be 'housed' or 'accounted for') and 'the final underwent' (which is imprecise). There are also minor issues with phrasing, such as 'maximum population' and 'least population', which are not the most natural ways to describe the data. Expanding your range of academic collocations will help you achieve a higher band score.
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 errors, such as 'The second and third tables illustrates' (subject-verb agreement error) and '79216 persons were accounted in 1800' (missing preposition 'for'). Additionally, there are punctuation errors, such as the inconsistent spacing around periods. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent punctuation will improve the accuracy of your writing.
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.