Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-31
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 table illustrates changes in numbers of population of New York city between 1800 and 2000 whereas the other tables show the proportion of changes in population of the five districts Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.
It can be observed that from the first table, in 1800 there were 79,216 population in New York city however it increased after a decade and reached to 3,437,202. In 2000, population accounted for 8,009,185.
It can be seen that from Manhattan table, population were 60,515 which contributed 76% of total population in 1800. While this district held 1,[redacted phone] population with 54% of total population in 1900, a decade later it decreased to 1,[redacted phone] (19% total population). From the third table, population in other districts were 18701 in 1800 while it increased rapidly in 1900 and reached to 1,[redacted phone] with 46% total population. In 2000, these districts held the maximum proportion with 81% of total population (6,471,089 population).
Overall, although in the beginning there were limited people lived in the New York city, major individuals lived in other districts in the end of period.
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 features of the data, including the overall population growth and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the jump from 1800 to 1900 in the first table is described as 'after a decade', which is a significant misinterpretation of the data provided. Additionally, the reporting of figures is occasionally imprecise, and the summary of the trends could be more analytical by highlighting the clear inversion of population distribution between 1800 and 2000. While the main trends are identified, the lack of careful data interpretation limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for the data, and a brief overview. Cohesive devices such as 'It can be seen that', 'While', and 'Overall' are used to link ideas. However, the progression of information is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the transition between the tables. The use of paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow between sentences could be improved to create a more cohesive narrative rather than just listing data points.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'major individuals' instead of 'the majority of the population' and 'limited people lived' instead of 'a limited number of people'. The phrasing 'reached to' is a common collocation error. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it does not demonstrate the flexibility or precision required for a higher band score. More precise terminology related to data description, such as 'proportion', 'fluctuation', or 'predominant', would enhance the response.
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 subject-verb agreement ('population were', 'major individuals lived') and article usage. There are also issues with number formatting and punctuation, such as '1,850093' and '1,538096', which are inconsistent and confusing. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of control over complex structures. Improving accuracy in basic grammar and ensuring consistent formatting of numerical data is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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