Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-26
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 information provided in three different tables illustrates the total population of United State's capital city New York, specifically of five different districts, over the last 200 years period, between 1800 and 2000.
Overall, it is quite evident from the tables that the birth rate is rapidly increasing from one decade to another, especially in the Manhattan district in the year 1900, and other districts population had grew by end of period.
The total population of the New York city is minimally recorded in 1800 was nearly 79,216. Whereas twice the same in the year 1900 of about 3,437,202. Further at eh end of the period, in 2000 decade the population significantly grew at approximately 8,009,185.
Turning to five different districts of New York, in 1800, a substantial number of birth rate is accounted for 60,515, which is 76% of the Manhattan district, while the other districts (Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Bronx) were recorded roughly 18,701 which is 24%. Likewise in 1900, the Manhattan is marginally reduced to 1,850,093 which is about 54%, whereas the rest of districts gradually increase the population upto 1,587,109 which is nearly 46%. Nevertheless, the Manhattan district was dramatically declined by only 19%, which is 1,528,096, meanwhile, the rest of districts considerably boost its population at a peak level up to 81%, that is roughly 6,471,089.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main trends in the data, but there are significant inaccuracies in the interpretation of the provided tables. You incorrectly refer to population figures as 'birth rates' throughout the text, which misrepresents the data. Additionally, while you identify the total population growth, your analysis of the district-specific data is confusing and contains mathematical errors, such as claiming Manhattan's population 'dramatically declined' when the data shows a different trend. To improve, ensure you accurately label the data (population vs. birth rate) and focus on clear, comparative statements rather than listing percentages that do not align with the provided figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Turning to', 'Nevertheless', and 'Likewise' to connect ideas. However, the progression of information is sometimes hindered by unclear referencing and awkward phrasing, such as 'twice the same in the year 1900'. The relationship between the sentences is occasionally mechanical, and the transition between the total population and the district breakdown could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there is a persistent misuse of terminology. Using 'birth rate' instead of 'population' is a significant error that affects the accuracy of your report. You attempt some more complex vocabulary like 'minimally recorded', 'substantial', and 'dramatically declined', but these are often used incorrectly or in contexts that do not match the data. To reach a higher band, focus on using precise terminology related to data description (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'surpassed', 'accounted for') and ensure that your word choices accurately reflect the information presented in the tables.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'United State's capital city' (should be 'United States''), 'population had grew' (should be 'had grown'), and 'at eh end' (typo). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic tense consistency and pluralization would be a beneficial step for improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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