Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-23
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 provided information explains the change in population in five different districts, which are part of New York City. Firstly, in 1800, the overall population was significantly lower than other years of about 79,216. The Manhattan was contributing the maximum of its population, as a district, of 76% than other districts, including Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, of 24%. However, the figures changed exponentially to 3,437,202 in the year 1900. Here, Manhattan's percentage as the overall population lowers to 54%, which is about 1,850,093 in population. While in other districts, the number of people, had increased to 1,587,109, making 46% of the total population. In addition to, in year 2000, the change in number was so rapid that it boosted to 8,009,185, making the participation of the population of Manhattan, the lowest among others, at about 1,538,096, which is 19% of the total. In contrast, other districts contribute maximum population of 6,471,089 which is 81% of total.
To sum up, the variation of total population has changed over the period of 200 years of time span.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the data, including the total population growth and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, relying heavily on listing figures rather than synthesizing trends. For instance, while you correctly identify the shift from Manhattan's dominance to the other districts' growth, the explanation of the data could be more analytical. You have addressed all parts of the task, but the presentation of the data is occasionally repetitive, and the comparison between the districts could be more clearly structured to highlight the significant demographic shift over the 200-year period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized chronologically, which provides a logical flow. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'However', 'In addition to', and 'In contrast' to link ideas. However, some transitions are slightly awkward, such as 'In addition to, in year 2000', which is grammatically incorrect. Paragraphing is also insufficient; the entire body of the report is contained in one large paragraph, which makes it harder to follow the distinct time periods. Using separate paragraphs for each time period or for contrasting trends would significantly improve the readability and logical progression of your report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'exponentially', 'participation', and 'variation'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'Manhattan was contributing the maximum of its population' is unnatural; 'accounted for the largest share' would be more precise. Similarly, 'the change in number was so rapid that it boosted to' is not standard usage. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include 'the overall population was significantly lower than other years of about 79,216' (awkward phrasing) and 'the number of people, had increased' (unnecessary comma). Additionally, the phrase 'In addition to, in year 2000' contains a prepositional error. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the data, they occur frequently enough to indicate a lack of control over more complex grammatical structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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