Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-20
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 illustrates the population growth from the year 1800 to 2000 for the five districts of the city of New York. The second and the third table also shows the change in population of five districts of New York City ,over the same period of time.
For Manhattan, in the year 1800s the population was least with only 60,515 ,mainly 76% total population. In the year 1900, there was a significant increase in the population of 1,850,093 with 54% of total population. There was a noticeable decrease in population in the year of 2000 with 1,538,096 consisting overall 19% of population.
Other districts of new york city collectively had a different trend than manhattan. During the 1800s the population was 18,701 roughly 24% of the total population while it increased tremendously in the year 1900 with 1,587,109 of 46% population. During 2000s, an increase of 6,471,089; 81% population
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the data, but it is incomplete. You have only focused on Manhattan and a combined category for the other four districts, failing to report on the individual trends for Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island as requested by the prompt. While you identify the population figures for 1800, 1900, and 2000, the lack of detail regarding the specific districts limits the depth of your analysis. To improve, ensure you select and report on the most significant trends across all categories provided in the tables rather than grouping them into a single 'other' category.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organised into three paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In the year...'). The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is clear, but the logical progression within the paragraphs is hindered by the lack of specific data points for the individual districts. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the trends across the different time periods.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'significant increase', 'noticeable decrease', and 'tremendously'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as '1800s' (when referring to a specific year) and 'consisting overall 19% of population' (which is grammatically awkward). The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main points, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. Focus on using more precise collocations when describing statistical changes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The second and the third table also shows' (subject-verb agreement error) and '1800s the population was least' (missing article). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and spacing around numbers. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of control over more complex grammatical forms. Increasing the accuracy of basic structures should be your priority.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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