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 first tables illustrates the total population of all five districts from 1800 to 2000.Whereas, the second table shows significant changes in Manhattan city in all three years, third table provides information about other 4 cities.
Overall, Manhattan city accounted for the largest proportion in initial year than other four cities. The population counts increased more then three quarter at the end.
Initially, Manhattan took over the population number than other districts with 60,515 and 18,701 respectively, which is 76% of total population. In 1900, Manhattan alone consisted of 1,850,093 residents, whereas other four districts had just 1,587,109 , which is 54% and 46% of total populace respectively.
Furthermore, at the end Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island was composed of totally 6,471,089, which has increased 6 times more than 1900. Whereas, Manhattan was made up to 1,538,096 which is just 19% of total number of residents. In 1900, the total number of population was formed by all 5 districts was 8,009,185.
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, but there are significant inaccuracies in the reporting of figures. For instance, the claim that Manhattan 'took over' the population in 1800 with 60,515 is not supported by the provided tables, and the calculation of percentages is inconsistent. While the overview identifies the general trend, the lack of precision in data reporting and the confusion between the total population and district-specific figures hinder the clarity of the summary. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are transcribed accurately and that comparisons are logically grounded in the provided information.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or misused, such as the awkward transition 'Whereas, the second table...' at the start of the response. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when referring to 'other 4 cities' or 'other districts', which makes the progression of ideas feel disjointed. While there is an attempt at logical sequencing, the lack of smooth transitions between the overview and the body paragraphs limits the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'Manhattan city' (Manhattan is a borough/district) and 'population counts increased more then three quarter'. The use of 'populace' and 'residents' is appropriate, but the overall range is limited. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for data trends, such as 'accounted for', 'constituted', or 'experienced a significant rise', and avoid repetitive sentence structures.
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 subject-verb agreement issues ('The first tables illustrates', 'Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island was composed'), incorrect preposition usage, and confusion between 'then' and 'than'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly around numbers and clauses. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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