Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-18
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 tables gives numerical data of new York city population from 1800 to 2000. The populous data given comes from five main districts of the city including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island.
Overall, the New York city population has exponentially increased over time. Approximately four times increase from 1800 to 1900 and it became twice of it at the end of 2000 has been observed.
The Manhattan , one of the district of New York city, has shown large population number in year 1800, which gradually has a significant decline in total percentage of population over the period of time. The other districts showed cumulative rise in population ratio over the time. The district Manhattan contributed large population ratio till 1900 with 54% total of the city.
The other districts had lesser population comparatively but it has increased twice almost by each year. By the end of 1900, these districts had a significant rise of 46% to 81% of total population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a general overview of the population trends, but it struggles with accuracy regarding the data provided. For instance, stating the population increased 'four times' between 1800 and 1900 is not supported by the figures (which show a rise from 79,216 to 3,437,202). Furthermore, the claim that Manhattan's population had a 'significant decline' is misleading; while its percentage share dropped, the absolute number of people increased significantly until 1920. The report lacks precision in reporting the specific data points required for a Band 6 or higher. To improve, focus on accurately transcribing and comparing the provided figures rather than making broad, unsupported generalizations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific trends. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as the phrase 'it became twice of it' which is unclear in context. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the lack of clear referencing between the tables makes the comparison difficult to follow. Improving the use of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') would help the flow of information and ensure that the relationship between the different districts is more clearly articulated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'populous data' (should be 'population data') and 'cumulative rise in population ratio'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on repetitive structures to describe trends. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology for describing data, such as 'proportion', 'demographic shift', 'substantial growth', or 'fluctuation'. Additionally, ensure that collocations are used correctly to avoid confusion.
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 'The tables gives' (subject-verb agreement), 'one of the district' (pluralization error), and 'it has increased twice almost by each year' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and refining sentence structure will 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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