Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-25
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 given below illustrate the variation in residents the number of residents of New York city from 1800 to 2000. The other two tabular charts providing the information about the changes in the populace among district five districts of the city over the same period.
To began with, in 1800 the total number of inhabitants was were 79,216, in which 76% people and 24% people were lived in Manhattan and other districts. However, the population rose from 79,216 to 3.4 million over the period. In contrast 54% of residents had been observed in Manhattan, accounted by 1.8 million while only 46% people belong to other districts.
Moving further, In 2000 only 19% size of the population from Manhattan , that was 1.5 million respectively where as the large figure of population lived in other districts towns which was 81% ,accounted as 6.4 million.
Overall, Over the period large number of people came from Manhattan but by passing year the population in other district inclined steadily.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by identifying the main trends in population growth. However, the data interpretation is inconsistent and contains inaccuracies. For example, the student states that in 1800, 76% of the population lived in Manhattan, but the table shows 60,489 out of 79,216, which is approximately 76%. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the total population and the specific districts is somewhat confusingly presented. The summary of the 2000 data is also slightly inaccurate regarding the specific percentages and figures provided in the prompt. More precise reporting of the data is required to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused. Phrases like 'To began with' (grammatically incorrect) and 'Moving further' are used to transition, but the logical flow between sentences is sometimes disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the 'other districts' versus the specific named districts. Paragraphing is present, but the internal logic within the paragraphs could be improved by better linking the data points to the overall trends.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The student relies on basic terms like 'number of', 'size of', and 'large figure'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'populace among district five districts' and 'by passing year'. The student attempts to use some academic vocabulary, but it is often used incorrectly or in a way that sounds unnatural. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology for describing trends, such as 'proportion', 'demographic', and 'significant increase', while ensuring these are used in the correct context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('inhabitants was were', 'people were lived'), incorrect verb tenses, and awkward sentence structures ('accounted by 1.8 million'). The student attempts to use complex structures, but these are often faulty, leading to confusion. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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