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 provide changes in demographics of New York city in years 1800 , 1900 and 2000. While the other table provides data on the population of different districts of Yew York city: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the same time period.
There is a surge in population over the years, from 79,216 during the first year with a significant rise to 3,437,202 in the next year and finally reaching to 8,009,185 in 2000.
The population in other districts of New York also reported an increase reaching upto 81% in 2000 compared to 24% and 46% in years 1800 and 1900 respectively. On the contrary the proportions of population of Manhattan decreases with advancing years for instance in 1800 it was 76% while it gradually decreases to 54% and shows a dramatic fall to 19% in 2000.
Overall the data illustrates an increases in population of New York city along with its major districts while Manhattan population data shows an exceptional decrease.
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, identifying the overall population growth and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the total population figures, you fail to provide a detailed comparison of the individual districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) beyond grouping them as 'other districts'. The prompt asks to report on the five districts, but you have omitted specific data points for these, which limits the depth of your response. To reach a higher band, ensure you select and compare specific data points for all categories mentioned in the prompt rather than generalizing them.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'While', 'On the contrary', and 'Overall', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where 'the next year' is used to refer to 1900, which is imprecise. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the lack of specific data for the individual districts makes the logical flow feel somewhat incomplete. Improving the variety of cohesive links would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'demographics', 'surge', 'proportions', and 'advancing years'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'reaching upto' (should be two words) and 'the proportions of population of Manhattan decreases' (should be 'decrease' to match the plural subject). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Attempting more precise collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would strengthen your lexical profile.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text: 'The table provide' (subject-verb agreement error), 'in years 1800' (preposition error), and 'Manhattan population data shows' (missing possessive 'Manhattan's'). Additionally, there are punctuation issues, such as the space before the comma in '1800 , 1900'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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