Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-22
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 tabular data illustrates information about the overall population growth of New York City from 1800 to 2000 and individual changes in five districts of the city -Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island-
Overall there is a huge rise in collective population of the city, while the population of of Manhattan increased more than any other district in first century and decreased in next century
In 1800 the collective population of New York City was 79,216 individuals which rose up to 3,437,202 by 1900 and in the next century it faced a prominent incriment and ended up at 8,009,185 people in 2000.
However, the population of Manhattan district was 60,515 in 1800 which contributes the 76% of total population while other four districts contain only 24% of the population. In 1900 the number of people in Manhattan rose to 1,850,093 which was 54% of Manhattans individuals and rest of the 46% people live in four districts. In 2000 Manhattans population faced a huge dip and dropped to 1,538,069 which was only 19% of citys population while remaining 81% of people migrated to other districts.
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 trends in the population data for New York City and its districts. You successfully identified the overall growth and the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the report is incomplete as it only discusses Manhattan in detail, while ignoring the specific data trends for the other four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island) provided in the tables. To reach a higher band, you must provide a more comprehensive overview of all data points, rather than focusing solely on one district. The summary of the overall city growth is accurate, but the analysis of the district-level data lacks depth regarding the other areas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from the city-wide total to the specific district trends. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In 1800', 'In 1900', 'In 2000'). Additionally, the transition between the city-wide data and the district-specific data could be smoother. While the paragraphing is sufficient, the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'collective population', 'prominent', and 'migrated'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'incriment' (increment) and 'citys' (city's). The phrasing 'contributes the 76% of total population' is slightly unnatural; 'accounted for 76% of the total population' would be more precise. To improve, focus on using more varied vocabulary to describe trends and ensure correct spelling and collocation of statistical terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the 76%') and possessives ('Manhattans individuals', 'citys population'). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'while the population of of Manhattan increased'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. To achieve a higher score, focus on proofreading for basic punctuation, such as apostrophes, and ensure consistent use of articles when discussing percentages and data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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