Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-28
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 provide information about the population of New York City and the percentage pf people living in Manhattan and in other districts in 1800, 1900, 2000
Overall, the population of New York City increase dramatically over the period, rising from just over 79,000 to more than 8 million in 2000. At the same time ratio of people living in Manhattan decreased considerably, while the percentage of people living in other districts increased.
In 1800, the population of New York City is 79,000 and 76% population lived in Manhattan. while only 18,000 people's lives in other districts.
In 1900, There was a sharp increase in population of New York City which is 3.4 million peoples and at that time 54% of peoples still lives in Manhattan. Meanwhile, the ratio of population in other districts becomes double and reached to 1.5 million.
In 2000, The population of New York City steadily increased from 3.4 million to more than 8 million. At this time the population of Manhattan is very less than other districts. Almost 81% of people lives in other districts while only 19% percent of public lives in Manhattan.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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, including the overall population growth and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and other districts. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting the data. For instance, you state that in 1800, 76% lived in Manhattan, but the table shows 76% for 1800, which is correct; however, your description of the 1900 data is slightly confusing regarding the 'double' ratio. Additionally, the statement that the population in 2000 was 'very less' is imprecise. To improve, ensure you accurately transcribe figures and use comparative language more precisely to highlight the trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the data. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 1800', 'In 1900', and 'Meanwhile' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing, such as the repetitive start to paragraphs. Referencing is generally clear, but the transition between the total population and the district percentages could be smoother to better integrate the two datasets provided in the prompt.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dramatically', 'considerably', and 'sharp increase'. However, there are some word choice errors and awkward collocations, such as '18,000 people's lives in other districts' (should be 'people lived') and 'population of Manhattan is very less' (should be 'much smaller'). The use of 'public' to refer to the population is also slightly unnatural in this context. Focusing on more precise academic collocations will help improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses (e.g., 'population... is 79,000' instead of 'was') and subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'peoples still lives'). There are also issues with pluralization, such as '3.4 million peoples'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher band score. You should focus on maintaining consistent past tense when describing historical data and reviewing basic subject-verb agreement rules.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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