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)
This table illustrates the population of New York city, including all five districts, changing between 1800 and 2000.
In 1800, the total population of NYC was just under 80,000. Manhattan accounted for 65,515 people, or 76% of total population, while other four districts had only 18,701 residents showing 24% of total population. By 1900 the cities population had increase to 3.4 million. Manhattan population rose to 1.85 million but its ratio fell to 54% of total population, while other districts reached 1.58 million or 46% of total population.
This trend also continued in 2000. The total population of NYC reached 8 million. However, Manhattan population dropped to 1.53million, with total population of only 19%. In comparison the other four districts the population increased to 6.47 million, with significantly higher ratio of 81%.
Overall, New York City experienced enormous population increase over the 2000 period time. At the same time population in Manhattan declined rapidly, while the other four districts became dominant.
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 meets the requirements of the task by summarizing the population changes and making relevant comparisons between the districts. However, there are some inaccuracies, such as stating that the total population reached 8 million by 2000 without properly integrating district populations. The interpretation of statistical data is somewhat vague, particularly in phrases like 'overall, New York City experienced enormous population increase over the 2000 period time,' which can lead to confusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
Coherence in the response is generally well-maintained, with clear progression of ideas from the population in 1800 to changes by 2000. However, transitions such as 'by 1900' and 'this trend also continued' could be clarified further for smoother flow. Additionally, the phrase 'population increase over the 2000 period time' is awkwardly constructed and could confuse readers, impacting cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The lexical resource is satisfactory, incorporating terms such as 'illustrates' and 'population accounted for.' However, there are instances of inappropriate or unclear language; for example, 'total population of only 19%' could be better expressed. Some phrases are repetitive, and the narrative could benefit from a wider range of vocabulary to describe data and trends, such as 'proportion' instead of 'ratio.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
Grammatical range and accuracy are adequate; however, there are several grammatical errors, like "the cities population had increase" which should be "the city's population had increased." Additionally, issues with punctuation, such as missing commas, impact clarity. The errors are noticeable but do not severely disrupt understanding. The use of numbers in writing could also follow a more consistent format, such as spelling out numbers under 10.
Overall feedback
The response effectively summarizes the changes in population across New York City and its districts. Key trends are noted, indicating an understanding of the population dynamics over the two centuries. However, improvements are needed in accuracy and clarity when presenting statistical data. To enhance coherence and cohesion, focus on using better transitional phrases to guide readers. Also, consider varying your vocabulary and improving grammatical accuracy; this will significantly elevate your overall score. Pay attention to potential misunderstandings caused by awkward phrasing or sentence structure.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.