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)
First table shows the proportion of total population of New York City in duration of 1800 to 2000. The other two tables illustrate changes in the population of the five districts of city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) in the same years.
According to tables the rate of population was on increase in New York City and in other districts except Manhattan districts.
Tables illustrate that the population of New York City was 79,216 in 1800 and its population increased rapidly and became around 8 million in 2000. Manhattan was the only one district that's population percentage decreased from 76% to 19% in duration from 1800 to 2000 respectively. In other districts the ratio of population was not so high in 1800 around 24% and in 1900 their proportion of population rose approximately double after that in 2000 their population cross the figure of 80% and became around 6.5 million it was a great jump.
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, such as the overall growth of NYC and the contrasting trend in Manhattan. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the population figures, the comparison between the districts is underdeveloped. For instance, you group the other four districts together without highlighting their individual growth trajectories or specific differences. To reach a higher band, you should provide more detailed comparisons of the data points provided in the tables rather than just summarizing the general trend. The overview is present but lacks sufficient detail to fully capture the complexity of the data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into three short paragraphs, which is a logical structure for a report. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'According to tables' and 'Tables illustrate that' are repetitive. The transition between the general population growth and the specific district trends could be smoother. While the progression of ideas is generally clear, the lack of varied linking words makes the flow feel a bit disjointed. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., 'the latter,' 'the former') and transition signals would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic verbs like 'shows,' 'illustrate,' and 'increased.' There is some repetition of the word 'population' and 'districts.' To improve, you should incorporate more varied terminology related to data description, such as 'witnessed a significant surge,' 'accounted for,' or 'experienced a downward trend.' There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'in duration of' instead of 'over the period of,' which slightly impacts the naturalness of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'Manhattan was the only one district that's population percentage decreased' contains an incorrect possessive pronoun ('that's' instead of 'whose'). Additionally, there are issues with articles ('in duration of 1800 to 2000') and subject-verb agreement ('their population cross the figure'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on accurate article usage and correct sentence construction will be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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