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)
First table shows changes in total population of New York CIty from 1800 to 2000. The second and third table sho changes in the population of the five districts of city including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.
Total residents in New York City was 79,216 in 1800. In 1900 strength rises upto 3,437,202, Populace in 2000 increases upto 8,009,185 in total.
District Manhattan keeps most of the residents than the other ditricts in New York. Which had 60,515 in 1800, almost 76% of total population in the city. In 1900 it rises to 1,850,093. Which was 54. In 200 Poupulation increased upto 1,538,096, almost 19% of total.
Other districts including Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island had very low population which was maximum 18,701 in 1800, almost 24% in four distrcits. In 1900 the strength significantly rises to 46% of total which was 1,587,109. In 2000 it became the highest strength in these four districts, which was 81% of total population as 6,471,089.
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 features of the data, including the overall population growth and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, relying heavily on listing figures rather than synthesizing trends. The inclusion of percentages is helpful, but the interpretation of the data is occasionally imprecise (e.g., stating '54' without a unit). To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping the data more effectively to highlight the contrast between the early dominance of Manhattan and the later growth of the outer districts, rather than listing each district's data point by point.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes repetitive. Phrases like 'In 1900' and 'In 2000' are used as the primary way to start sentences, which makes the flow feel mechanical. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the sentence 'Which was 54', which lacks a clear antecedent or unit. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows logically from the previous one would significantly improve the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic verbs like 'shows', 'rises', and 'increased'. There are also several spelling errors, such as 'CIty', 'ditricts', 'Poupulation', and 'distrcits', which are distracting. While the use of 'populace' and 'residents' shows an attempt to vary your language, the overall range is limited. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated reporting verbs and nouns related to demographic trends, and pay closer attention to proofreading your work to eliminate simple spelling mistakes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'in 200 Poupulation'), incorrect verb forms ('strength rises upto'), and awkward phrasing ('keeps most of the residents than the other ditricts'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several sentence fragments starting with 'Which'. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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