Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-03
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 provided three tables illustrates the changes in the size of total population of New York City and specifically with the reference of five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island) from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the figures shows the upward trend in the size of population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. However, the specific five districts indicate some differences as the total population of one district shows decline in the percentage of total population while the rest of four districts contributes to populational growth over the same period.
The New York City's population continued to grow by each passing year 1800 to 2000 from 79,216 to 8,009,185. The population of Manhattan district was rapidly declined from 76% to 19% as compared to the other four districts Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island that grows significant proportion of percentage from 24% to 81% over the time span of three years.
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 shift in percentage distribution among the districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you correctly identify the decline in Manhattan's percentage and the growth of the other districts, you fail to provide specific data points for the intermediate years or compare the districts in more detail. The statement 'three years' is a factual error, as the data spans two centuries. To improve, ensure you select more representative data points and avoid misinterpreting the time frame provided in the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'However', and 'as compared to' are used to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is slightly hindered by the lack of detail in the body paragraph. The referencing is generally clear, but the transition between the general population growth and the specific district percentages could be smoother. The structure is functional, but it lacks the sophisticated flow required for higher bands.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upward trend', 'proportion', and 'contributes to'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'populational growth' (population growth) and 'with the reference of' (referring to). Additionally, the phrase 'grows significant proportion of percentage' is awkward and lacks precision. To reach a higher band, focus on using more natural collocations and ensuring that your vocabulary choices are grammatically appropriate for the context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that affect clarity, such as 'The provided three tables illustrates' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'the figures shows' (subject-verb agreement error). Furthermore, 'was rapidly declined' is an incorrect passive construction; it should be 'declined rapidly'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to suggest a lack of control over complex structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct verb tenses will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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