Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-01
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 illustrates all five districts of New York in 1800, 1900 and 2000 time-period. As second and third table illustrates population change in other five districts like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Islands.
overall, Manhattan city population is greater than other five districts populations.
In 1800, the total population stood at just 79,216. It surged dramatically over the next century to over 3.4 million in 1900, before more than doubling to reach over 8 million by the year 2000.Manhattan: In 1800, Manhattan was home to 60,515 people, accounting for 76% of the city's total population. Although its population peaked numerically in 1900 at 1,850,033, its percentage share dropped to 54%. By 2000, Manhattan's population fell to 1,538,096, representing only 19% of the total.Other Districts: Conversely, the remaining boroughs started with a small population of 18,701 (24%) in 1800. This figure rose sharply to nearly 1.6 million (46%) in 1900. By 2000, the population of these districts skyrocketed to 6,471,089, commanding a dominant 81% share of the overall population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the population changes in New York City and its districts. You included relevant data points to support your descriptions, such as the shift in percentage share for Manhattan. However, the introduction is slightly confusing; you mention 'all five districts' in the first sentence but then refer to 'other five districts' in the second, which is redundant and inaccurate as there are only five in total. To improve, ensure your overview clearly synthesizes the data rather than just listing figures. The comparison between Manhattan and the other boroughs is well-handled and addresses the core requirement of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized, with a clear progression from the total population to specific borough comparisons. You use some cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Conversely' and 'Although'. However, the paragraphing is somewhat disjointed; the transition between the general overview and the specific data points could be smoother. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the opening sentences where the distinction between the tables is muddled. Improving the use of linking phrases between paragraphs would help the flow of the response significantly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'surged dramatically', 'skyrocketed', and 'dominant share'. There are some minor issues with word choice and phrasing, such as 'Manhattan city population' (Manhattan is a borough, not a city) and the repetitive use of 'other five districts'. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band. Focusing on more varied collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing will help elevate your lexical score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Although its population peaked numerically in 1900... its percentage share dropped'. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'As second and third table illustrates' (missing articles and subject-verb agreement) and 'Manhattan city population is greater than other five districts populations' (awkward phrasing and missing possessives). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are instances where sentences are run together or lack necessary spacing. Increasing the accuracy of your complex structures will improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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