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 illustrate the changes in New York’s population and its five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) from 1800 to 2000
As we can see New York population in the 1800’s was only 79216 with manhattan holding the highest percentage of 76 percent while the remaining districts holding only 24 percent, in the 1900 the population increased to almost 3,5 million residents with a decline in manhattan’s population to 54 percent while the other districts grew considerably to 46 percent with a population of almost 1,6 million person living there.
Major change happened in the 2000’s with the rise of the population reaching 8 million residents. Manhattan’s population declined sharply to only holding only 19 percent of the overall population. On the other hand the rest of the districts reached a peak of 6,5 million residents with over 80 percent of the population living there.
In conclusion, it’s obvious the growth of New York’s population in the last two centuries making it one of the biggest cities in the modern world
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 shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. You have successfully identified the key data points for 1800, 1900, and 2000. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the most significant trends, which is essential for a high band score in Task 1. Additionally, while you mention the five districts, you do not provide specific data for them individually, which would have strengthened the analysis. The conclusion is somewhat redundant as it does not synthesize the data effectively. To improve, ensure you include a clear 'overview' paragraph that highlights the most striking changes across the entire period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the chronological progression. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'in the 1800’s', 'in the 1900', 'in the 2000’s'). There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect ideas within and between sentences. For instance, the transition between the description of the 1900 data and the 2000 data could be smoother. Improving the variety of cohesive devices, such as using 'subsequently', 'meanwhile', or 'in contrast', would enhance the flow and logical progression of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the main points clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'decline', 'sharply', and 'overall population'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor inaccuracies in word choice and form, such as '1,6 million person' (should be 'people') and 'holding only 19 percent' (repetitive). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'accounted for', or 'proportion', and ensure correct pluralization and noun-verb agreement.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include punctuation issues (e.g., missing commas after introductory phrases), inconsistent capitalization (e.g., 'manhattan'), and errors in preposition usage and number agreement (e.g., '1,6 million person'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic errors like subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent capitalization of proper nouns.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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