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)
The tables illustrates the population changes in New York city in duration 1800 to 2000. First table shows the total population of five districts while other 2 tables give details about proportion of population and their numbers in different districts( Manhattan,Brooklyn,Bronx ,Queens and Staten island ) in 1800 to 2000.
in New York city population was increased as years passed.meanwhile,trends were different in Manhattan as this district inhabitants were higher in early year but this proportion fell down in after years.moreover,in other 4 states residents percentage increased in the time frame.
In new York city population increased tremendously 79,216 in 1800 to 3,437,202 in year 1900.after that abruptly this statistics reached to highest level 8,009,185 in 2000.
on the other hand,proportion of total population was different in several districts .Manhattan s population fluctuated as compare to other districts .76% of total population in year 1800 which comprised 60,515 inhabitants,then decreased to 54% in a year .and was reached to just 19% in 2000.
comparatively,in other districts percentage of total population varied to Manhattan,this proportion was less 24%in year 1800,with total inhabitants of 18,701 then increased to 46 % in year 1900 46%.in 2000 total population was 6,[redacted phone] that was 81% of total population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the overall population growth and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The student identifies the growth trends but fails to provide a clear, analytical comparison between the specific figures provided in the tables. For instance, the grouping of the 'other four districts' is a good attempt at synthesis, but the data points selected are occasionally imprecise or confusingly presented (e.g., the mention of '46% in year 1900 46%'). The overview is present but lacks a clear summary of the most significant trends, such as the dramatic shift in demographic distribution from Manhattan to the outer boroughs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is frequently interrupted by mechanical errors and awkward transitions. While the student uses some cohesive devices like 'meanwhile', 'moreover', and 'on the other hand', they are often used incorrectly or placed awkwardly within sentences. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the 'other 4 states' (which should be districts). Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks a smooth progression of ideas, making the text feel somewhat disjointed and repetitive in its reporting of figures.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as using 'states' instead of 'districts' and 'duration' instead of 'period'. The student relies on basic descriptive language ('increased', 'decreased', 'higher') and struggles with collocations. There are also issues with numerical formatting and punctuation that affect the clarity of the data presentation. To improve, the student should focus on using more varied and precise terminology related to statistical trends, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuated', and 'accounted for'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a high frequency of grammatical errors, including missing articles ('in New York city'), incorrect verb forms ('The tables illustrates'), and punctuation issues. Sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. For example, 'Manhattan s population fluctuated as compare to other districts' contains both a punctuation error and a grammatical error. While the meaning is generally understandable, the persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction significantly hinder the fluency of the writing. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and proper sentence punctuation is necessary.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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