Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-29
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 first table compares the number of population changed in New York city during the year 1800 to 2000, whereas the other tables show the percentage change of population in five different districts.
Overall, the total population in New York rose significantly throughout the period. It is also noticeable that percentage of popualtion declined in Manhattan over the periods, while other dsitricts experienced an upward trend.
In New York, about 79216 population recorded in 1800 and this figure increased dramatically to 3437,202, in 1800. Similarly, the number of population rose rapidly over the following years, and the total population was 8,00,9,185, in 2000, which was the highest figure.
For the remaining figures, Manhattan recorded about 76% of total population in 1900, whereas this figure declined to 54% over a century. Likewise, Manhattan experienced a dramatic declined of the total population from 1900 to 2000, and the total population was 1,538,096 (19%), in 2000. Meanwhile, the percentage of population in other districts rose significantly over the periods. In 1800, the figure was 24%, and it increased to 81% over the two centuries.
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
You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in population distribution away from Manhattan. However, there are significant inaccuracies in your data reporting. For instance, you state the population in 1800 was 3437,202, which is incorrect based on the provided table. Additionally, your interpretation of the percentage data is confusing; you mention a 24% figure for 'other districts' in 1800, which does not align clearly with the provided data. To improve, ensure you double-check the figures against the source material and provide a more precise summary of the key data points rather than generalising.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'similarly', and 'meanwhile' to link ideas. However, the progression of information is sometimes hindered by the inaccurate data reporting, which makes the logic difficult to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal cohesion within the third paragraph is weak due to the confusing presentation of the population figures and the lack of clear reference to the specific districts mentioned in the prompt.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dramatically', 'upward trend', and 'significantly'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'popualtion' and 'dsitricts', and some awkward phrasing, such as 'number of population changed'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, the errors and the lack of precision in reporting data limit your score. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology for data description and ensure accurate spelling of key terms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The first table compares... whereas the other tables show...'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including incorrect number formatting (e.g., '8,00,9,185'), subject-verb agreement issues, and awkward phrasing like 'a dramatic declined of the total population'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. Increasing your control over basic sentence construction and proofreading for punctuation and number formatting will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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