Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-02
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 tables show changes in the total population of newyork city and in the population of its five distracts between 1800 and 2000.
overall, the population of new york city increased dramatically over the 200 years period. while all districts saw growth, brooklyn and queens experienced the most significant increase by 2000.
looking at the total population in 1800 newyork city had only 79,216 people. This rose sharply to over 3.4 million in 1900, and by 2000 it had more than doubled again to reach 9,009,185.
in the term of districts, manhattan was the most populated area in 1800 and 1900. however by 2000 brooklyn and queens became the largest while staten island remained the smallest throughout the period. in conclusion , while NYC,s population grew overall, there was a clear shift from mahattan to the outer districts during this period. their population and share now grew to 1,587,109 or.
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, including the overall growth of NYC and the shift in population distribution between districts. However, the analysis is somewhat limited. While you identify that Manhattan was the most populated and that Brooklyn and Queens grew significantly, the report lacks a more detailed comparison of the specific figures provided in the tables. The final sentence is incomplete and lacks clarity, which hinders the full development of the response. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are clearly linked to the trends described and avoid trailing off at the end of the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'overall', 'while', 'however', and 'in conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by minor punctuation errors, such as the space before the comma in 'in conclusion ,'. Additionally, the final sentence lacks a clear connection to the preceding text, making the conclusion feel abrupt and slightly disjointed. Improving the variety of linking phrases and ensuring consistent paragraph structure would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dramatically', 'significant increase', and 'sharply'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'distracts' instead of 'districts' and 'mahattan' instead of 'Manhattan'. Furthermore, the phrase 'in the term of districts' is non-standard; 'in terms of districts' would be more appropriate. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, there is a lack of more sophisticated or precise lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including capitalization issues ('newyork city'), punctuation errors (the comma before the final period), and minor slips like '200 years period' instead of '200-year period'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic capitalization, subject-verb agreement, and correct noun-adjective usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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