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 first table shows the increase in population of New York City from 1800 to 2000, and the tables below demonstrate population growth in the same time period.
By visually analyzing tables, it is prominent that among all 5 districts, Manhattan was the most populated in the 19th century, with 76% share of the population. Gradually, the trend in population changes, with Manhattan having 24% of the population. The reason for a shift in population is unknown, but it is worth noting that in the 20th century, the percentage of the population of Manhattan and the combined other four districts, named as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island was around 50%.
Conclusively, New York City had a drastic change in population for 2 whole centuries with Manhattan initially having the most population and ending with the least.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you identify the main trend regarding Manhattan's population shift, the analysis is superficial. You have not adequately reported on the data for the other four districts or the total population figures provided in the tables. The task requires a more comprehensive summary of the data points across the century-long period. By focusing almost exclusively on Manhattan and providing vague summaries for the other districts, you have not fully addressed all parts of the prompt. To improve, ensure you include specific data points from the tables to support your observations and cover all categories mentioned in the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay has a basic structure with an introduction, a body paragraph, and a conclusion. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and occasionally mechanical, such as 'By visually analyzing tables' and 'Conclusively'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the 'combined other four districts'. To improve, use a wider range of linking words to connect your sentences and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus. The current paragraphing is insufficient to handle the data effectively, and the logical flow between the general population trends and the specific district data needs to be more clearly defined.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You use basic terms like 'increase', 'growth', and 'change' repeatedly. While you attempt some academic phrasing such as 'prominent' and 'drastic change', the word choice is sometimes slightly unnatural or imprecise in context. For example, 'the trend in population changes' is vague. To reach a higher band, focus on using more specific vocabulary related to data reporting, such as 'fluctuated', 'accounted for', 'surpassed', or 'proportion'. Expanding your range of synonyms and collocations will help you describe the trends more accurately and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For instance, 'the tables below demonstrate population growth in the same time period' is grammatically correct, but the phrasing 'the percentage of the population of Manhattan and the combined other four districts... was around 50%' is clunky. There are also minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of complex sentences. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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