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 Table illustrates the total population of New York City in five districts comparing across Manhattan and other districts from 1800 to 2000 measured in percentages.
Overall, it is immediately apparent that the change over time is from 1800 to 2000 the population experienced a huge upward trend from around 79000 in 1800 to 8 Million in 2000.
Conversely, during the same period New York City's population is greater compared to all other districts over a period of time the other districts’ population followed a declined trend compared to Manhattan it is 81% of New York City Population.
Looking at Manhattan in detail, the population stood at 76% in 1800.
This figure fluctuated sharply to 54% by 1900, before reaching a low 19% in 2000.
Similarly, Other Districts mirrored this pattern, rising from 24% in 1800 to 46% by 1900 and 81% in 2000.
Turning to the fluctuation in population, a contrasting pattern is observed.
In 2000, population registered at 81%, which was significantly higher than that of all other periods at 2000.
By the end of the period, both Districts converged at approximately 8 Million, remaining lower than the figures recorded for Manhattan compared to other Districts.
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 total population growth and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the interpretation of the data. For instance, the claim that the population of other districts 'followed a declined trend' is factually incorrect based on the provided tables, which show a clear increase. Additionally, the final sentence is confusing and contradictory, suggesting that both districts converged at 8 million while also stating they remained lower than Manhattan. The overview is present but lacks clarity due to these analytical errors. To improve, ensure that the data reported matches the visual evidence provided in the tables.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is frequently interrupted by confusing statements. For example, the transition 'Turning to the fluctuation in population, a contrasting pattern is observed' does not effectively link to the preceding information. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Conversely' and 'Similarly', but they are sometimes used incorrectly, such as when 'Conversely' is used to introduce a comparison that does not actually contrast with the previous point. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult to track which data points are being discussed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with attempts to use terms like 'fluctuated', 'converged', and 'registered'. However, there are issues with word choice and collocation that limit precision. For example, 'followed a declined trend' is non-standard; 'showed a declining trend' or 'experienced a decline' would be more appropriate. The phrase 'low 19%' is also slightly awkward. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general topic, the inaccuracies in reporting the data trends hinder the overall effectiveness of the lexical choices.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'The Table illustrates the total population of New York City in five districts comparing across Manhattan and other districts', which is syntactically muddled. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and tense consistency, such as 'New York City's population is greater' when referring to historical data. Punctuation is generally functional, but some sentences are run-on or lack necessary clarity due to poor clause construction. Greater attention to sentence structure and verb tense consistency is required.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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