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 first table gives the data on overall change from 1800 to 2000 in all five districts of New York City. The second table shows the data on population change only in one district, and the third table is based on the data on population change of other districts.
Overall, the population of New York from 1800 to 2000 has a dramatic increase, while the Manhattan district shows a clear decline in its population, and the other four districts have a growth in their population rate.
The total population of the city was only 79,216 in 1800, that has grown to 8,009,185 in 2000. Also Manhattan district was composed of at least 90% of the total population of the city in 1800, while other districts combinedly had 18,701.
The Manhattan district faced a declined in its population from being 54% in 1900 to being only 19% in 2000. On the other hand, other districts had an increase in their total population by only on 24% in 1800 to 81% in 2000.
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 provides a clear overview of the population trends. However, the analysis of the data is somewhat inaccurate. For instance, you state that Manhattan shows a 'clear decline in its population,' but the data provided in the tables shows the population of Manhattan actually increased from 60,515 in 1800 to 1,537,195 in 2000. You have confused the percentage share of the total population with the absolute population figures. While you identify the main features, the misinterpretation of the data significantly impacts the accuracy of your report. To improve, ensure you distinguish between raw numbers and percentage proportions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'while,' and 'on the other hand' helps to guide the reader. However, the connection between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the 'other districts' as a group. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the internal coherence is weakened by the factual errors in the data interpretation, which makes the comparison between the districts confusing for the reader.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points, such as 'dramatic increase,' 'composed of,' and 'faced a decline.' However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'combinedly' (which is not standard English) and 'population rate' when you are referring to absolute numbers or percentages. The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. Focusing on more natural collocations and avoiding non-standard adverbs will help improve your lexical 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 'that has grown' (which lacks a clear antecedent), 'faced a declined' (incorrect verb form), and 'only on 24%' (preposition error). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the general message, they are frequent enough to indicate a lack of control over more complex structures. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and using correct verb tenses when describing historical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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