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 illustrate a change in population in the New York City as a whole, alongside with a breakdown of other four districts, like- Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island as well from 1800 to 2000.
From the year 1800 to 1900 , the population got a huge increase in the city. In 1800, the population was 79,216. But in 1900, the population got increased rapidly and became more than 4 times of the population which was there in 1800. After that, in the year 2000, the jump in the population was not much high compared to the increase from 1800 to 1900. In 2000, the population became 8,009,185.
In 1800, 76% of the whole city's population was covered by Manhattan alone. The population by number, was 60,515. Other districts like - Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island , they all combinedly covered 24% of the population , which is 18,701.
In 1900, 54% of the population was contributed by Manhattan, which is 1,850,093. And the other five districts contributed 46% to the population in 1900.
But in 2000, the scenario got changed. Manhattan contributed only 19% to the population in 2000. And the remaining 81% population contribution came from the other four districts.
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 in population growth and the shifting proportions of the districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You mention the total population figures and percentages for Manhattan versus the other districts, but you fail to provide a clear overview or summary of the most significant trends, such as the rapid growth of the outer boroughs compared to the relative decline of Manhattan's share. Additionally, the data for 1900 is slightly misstated in your text (referring to 'five districts' when the table shows Manhattan and four others). To improve, ensure you group data more logically to highlight the contrast between the city's overall expansion and the internal demographic shifts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In 1800...', 'In 1900...', 'But in 2000...'). The transition between sentences could be smoother; for instance, the jump between discussing total population and then switching to percentages is a bit abrupt. Using more varied linking phrases such as 'In contrast,' 'Conversely,' or 'A significant shift occurred when...' would improve the flow and logical progression of your ideas. Referencing is generally clear, but the structure feels like a list of facts rather than a cohesive report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely heavily on basic verbs like 'got' (e.g., 'population got a huge increase', 'scenario got changed'), which is too informal for an Academic Task 1 report. There is also some awkward phrasing, such as 'combinedly covered' and 'population by number'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'experienced a substantial rise,' 'accounted for,' or 'the trend shifted significantly.' Avoid informal phrasal verbs or colloquial expressions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors that occasionally hinder the flow. For example, 'alongside with a breakdown of other four districts' is grammatically incorrect, and 'the population got increased rapidly' is an awkward passive construction. There are also issues with punctuation and article usage (e.g., 'the New York City'). While your meaning is generally clear, the lack of control over complex structures and the presence of persistent errors in verb tense and preposition usage limit your score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and avoiding informal verb forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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