Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-27
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)
There are three tables illustrating the changes in the population in three cities during the period 1800, 1900 and 2000 respectively. In the first table it highlights the data for the New York city whereas in the second it reflects the proportional change in Manhattan along with the third table, where it shows the proportional change for the Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island respectively.
Overall, In year 1800 Newyork was the most populated area out of the five cities while Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island was the least populated.
The population of Manhattan contributed 76% in the year1800 while it showed a significant decreased in year 2000 to 19%. On contrast, other districts contributed a total of 24% in 1800 and grew up to 80% in year 2000.
The population of Newyork city has increased remarkably from year 1800 (79216) to 2000 ([redacted phone]) which was nearly 100 times in two decades.
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 identifies the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. However, the analysis is hampered by significant factual inaccuracies. The introduction incorrectly states there are 'three cities' and 'three tables' (there are five districts and two tables provided). Furthermore, the claim that the population grew '100 times in two decades' is a major misinterpretation of the data, which spans two centuries (1800–2000). While the key features are selected, the lack of precision and the misreading of the time frame prevent a higher score.
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 somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as 'On contrast' instead of 'In contrast'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the introduction where the relationship between the tables and the districts is confused. The logical progression is hindered by the factual errors mentioned in the task achievement section, which makes the overall argument difficult to follow at times. Paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to separate the overview from the specific data points.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision. There is some repetition of basic structures and terms like 'contributed' and 'population'. The student attempts to use some academic vocabulary, such as 'proportional change' and 'remarkably', but the misuse of terms like 'cities' instead of 'districts' and the confusion regarding the time period (referring to two centuries as 'two decades') indicates a limited control over the necessary terminology for data interpretation. Spelling is generally accurate, but the word choice is often imprecise.
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 'In year 1800 Newyork was' (missing articles), 'significant decreased' (incorrect verb form), and 'grew up to' (unnecessary preposition). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are issues with capitalization (e.g., 'Newyork'). While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors is noticeable and occasionally distracts the reader. The student demonstrates an attempt at complex sentences, but these are often marred by minor grammatical slips.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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