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 provided tables gives information about the population changes in New York City and its five different districts between 1800 to 2000.
In the first table, the total population of New York City was 79,216 in 1800. which was grew to 3,437,202 in 1900, and finally reached to 8,009,185 in 2000. In 1800, Mahattan was the main area, holding around 76% of the total population. While the other districts around only 24%.
By 1900, Manhattan population grew to 1,850,093(54%), while the other districts grew to 1,538,096(46%). By 2000, the game was totally changed to like reversed the trend. The other districts grew with very high numbers to 6,471,089 people, making it 81% of the city total population. Where as Manhattan share was down dropped to 19%(1,538,096).
Overall, the total population of New York City increased significantly over the 200 year period. In addition, there was a major shift in population from Manhattan to other districts.
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, identifying the total population growth and the significant shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is slightly hampered by inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that Manhattan's population in 2000 was 1,538,096, which is actually the figure for 1900, not 2000. Additionally, the description of the 1800 data is slightly confusing regarding the 'other districts'. While the main trends are identified, the precision required for a high band is lacking due to these data errors.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'In the first table', 'By 1900', and 'Overall' help guide the reader through the chronological progression. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing of 'the other districts' could be more precise to improve flow. The progression of ideas is clear, but the internal cohesion within the second paragraph is slightly weakened by the data errors mentioned previously.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'population changes', 'significantly', and 'reversed the trend'. However, there are some awkward phrasings and word choices, such as 'the game was totally changed' and 'down dropped', which are informal and imprecise for an academic report. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more formal, precise collocations and avoid colloquial expressions. The spelling is generally accurate, but the lack of variety in reporting verbs limits the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The provided tables gives' (subject-verb agreement), 'which was grew' (incorrect verb form), and 'reached to' (unnecessary preposition). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of periods and parentheses. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tenses would significantly improve the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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