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)
With passage of time, a drastic increase in populiation has been observed. Statistically, the rise in numbers is over three times in a hudred years. However, a severe decrease in population in Manhattan has een noticed over time. Whereas, it surged in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, over time.
Overall, there's been an overhaul of population in Newyork city in 200 years going from several thousands to millions. Furthermore, as the numbers were increasing in the whole city consequently, they were decreasing in Manhattan, implying that people might be moving to other cities cause the numbers in other districts kept escalating.
Provided data portrays that in 1800, in alone Manhattan there was 76% of population. Conversely, The combined population in other cities made upto 24%. But in 2000, in Manhattan it lessens to 19%, however boosts to 81% in other cities demonstrating the urban decay in the district over time.
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 trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You mention that Manhattan's population 'lessens' to 19%, but you do not provide enough specific data points from the tables to support your summary effectively. The interpretation of 'urban decay' is an external assumption not supported by the provided data, which only shows population shifts. To improve, ensure you select and report key figures (e.g., the specific population in 1800 vs 2000) to illustrate your points more precisely rather than relying on general descriptions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure for a report. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Whereas, it surged...' is grammatically incomplete as a sentence. The phrase 'consequently, they were decreasing' is also used in a way that feels forced. While there is an overall progression, the links between sentences could be smoother. Ensure that cohesive devices are used to connect ideas naturally rather than just acting as signposts at the start of sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
There is an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'drastic increase', 'surged', and 'escalating'. However, there are several spelling errors ('populiation', 'hudred', 'een', 'Newyork') and some awkward word choices, such as 'overhaul of population' and 'made upto'. These errors do not prevent understanding, but they do limit the score. To reach a higher band, focus on accurate spelling and using more precise collocations, such as 'population distribution' instead of 'overhaul of population'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'With passage of time' (missing article), 'in alone Manhattan' (incorrect word order), and 'in other cities' (the prompt refers to districts, not cities). There are also issues with punctuation and sentence fragments, such as 'Whereas, it surged in Brooklyn...'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a lack of control over more complex structures. Focus on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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