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 79,216 population 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, including the total population growth and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the statement that the population increased in a 'period of 3 years' is a significant factual error, as the data spans two centuries. Furthermore, the grouping of the four other districts into a single category is a reasonable approach, but the explanation of the trends lacks depth. To reach a higher band, you should provide more precise comparisons and ensure that the data points selected are accurately interpreted and described.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into an introduction, an overview, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the logical progression is hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin' and 'In conclusion', they are used in a somewhat mechanical fashion. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the body paragraphs where the transition between raw numbers and percentages is abrupt. Improving the flow between sentences and using a wider variety of linking words would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'increased' and 'changes'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'In among districts' and 'in era of'. To improve, you should aim to use more sophisticated vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'surged', 'declined', or 'accounted for'. Additionally, ensure that you use terminology correctly in context to avoid confusion for the reader.
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 among districts, Individually, Manhattan had 76% population', which is syntactically incorrect, and the misuse of prepositions throughout the text. There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy will be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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