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 given table illustrates the difference in residents of New York City between 1800 and 2000. Another two tables depicts the swap in population in five districts. Manhattan contains highest population in the initial stage.
It can be seen from the table that in 1800 the overall population was 79,216. This value skyrocketed in a year 1900 and reached 3,437,202. In addition in 2000 the value reached 8,009,185. For the city Manhattan the population was 76%. While for the other four cities the value was least in the same year which was 24%.
Furthermore, in 1900 the value of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island the population was 46%. However the value of Manhattan was slightly more than those cities. Which was around 8%. In 2000 the four cities contained the highest population among all the cities which was 81%. In comparison the Manhattan has only 19% of the population the the 2000.
Overall, the table showed up ward trend in the population of all the cities.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response identifies the main trends in the total population and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other four districts. However, the analysis is hampered by significant inaccuracies in data interpretation. For instance, stating Manhattan had 76% of the population in 1800 is not clearly supported by the provided tables, and the description of the 1900 data is confusing. The summary lacks a clear overview of the most striking changes, such as the massive overall growth and the reversal of the population concentration from Manhattan to the other districts. To improve, ensure that data points are accurately transcribed and that the 'main features' are highlighted more clearly in the introduction or overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'In addition in 2000' and 'In comparison the Manhattan has only 19%' feel disjointed. The progression of ideas is sometimes illogical, particularly in the second and third paragraphs where the comparison between the districts is difficult to follow due to awkward phrasing and unclear referencing. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive. While the student attempts to use some descriptive verbs like 'skyrocketed', other word choices are imprecise or incorrect, such as 'swap in population' (instead of 'distribution') and 'cities' (when referring to districts/boroughs). There are also minor errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'up ward trend'. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to data reporting and avoid repeating the same sentence structures and vocabulary throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('in a year 1900'), incorrect verb forms ('Another two tables depicts'), and awkward sentence fragments ('Which was around 8%'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, which occasionally impedes the clarity of the comparisons. The student should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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