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 first table represent the changes in total population between 1800 to 2000 in New York City. The second and third tables illustrate the changes of population in districts of the city Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island between 18000 to 2000.
Overall ,total population of New York City including all five districts dramatically increased throughout the given period. Whereas, the number of population in Manhattan district grew significantly and declined massively in percentage throughout the period. Furthermore, Other districts experienced the highest proportion of total population.
New York City`s population stood at 79,216 in 1800. The population grew enormously in 1900 reaching up to 3,437,202. Furthermore, the population peaked in 2000 accounting for the highest number of 8,009,185 of total population. Population in Manhattan in 1800 at 60,515 number of resident made up 76% of total population. While, the number of resident increased to 1,538,096 in 2000. The overall proportion of total population declined massively to 19%.
Other districts initially stood at 18,701 in 1800 which made up only 24% of total population share. The number surged to 6,471,089 in 2000. The total population share also grew rapidly making up to 81%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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, including the overall population growth and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the statement that other districts experienced the 'highest proportion' is vague and lacks a clear comparison of the specific trends for each district. While the key data points are included, the report would benefit from a more nuanced comparison of the growth rates between the different time periods (1800-1900 vs 1900-2000) rather than just listing the figures. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the most significant trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific data sets. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'While', and 'Whereas' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of information is generally clear, moving from the total population to the specific district breakdowns. However, the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as in the second paragraph where the comparison between Manhattan and other districts is somewhat confusingly phrased. Overall, the structure is functional and supports the reader's understanding of the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at using descriptive language such as 'dramatically increased', 'peaked', and 'surged'. However, there are instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'number of population' instead of 'population size' or 'total population share'. There is also a minor error in the prompt's data transcription ('18000' instead of 1800). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The first table represent') and missing articles ('in Manhattan district'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though there is an unnecessary space before the comma in the second paragraph and a backtick used instead of an apostrophe in 'City`s'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not significantly impede communication. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles when referring to geographical locations and data categories.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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