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 tables provide data about the population of New York City and five districts -Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island - for three year 1800, 1900 and 2000.
Overall, In year 1800 the most number of citizens lived in Manhattan as compared to other districts that experienced over the quatar of total. However, there is dramatic increased in number of residents in other districts and considerable declined in Manhattan at the end of given period.
New York City's total population in 1800 was 79,216 of which 76% covered by Manhattan and remaining 24% by whilst Manhattan. Over the next century Manhattan and other districts experienced dramatic growth with figure 1,850,093 and 1,587,109 respectively that made together population of New York 3,437,202.
Most significant change happened in 2000. Where first time Manhattan population declined and only 19% of total left with figure 1,538,096. In contrast, other districts accounted for 81%, at the peak over the given period.
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, such as the total population growth and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you state that 76% of the population was covered by Manhattan in 1800, but the table shows 60,489 out of 79,216, which is approximately 76% only if calculated differently; more importantly, your claim that Manhattan's population declined in 2000 is contradicted by the table, which shows an increase from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000—this is a decrease from the 1900 figure, not a decline from the start of the period. The summary is somewhat confusing due to these misinterpretations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is an attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast' and 'However'. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical errors, such as 'remaining 24% by whilst Manhattan'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the districts. While there is a clear overall progression, the lack of precision in linking the data points makes the logical development feel somewhat disjointed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision. You use some relevant terms like 'dramatic growth' and 'significant change', but there are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'most number of citizens' instead of 'largest number' and 'quatar' (spelling error). The phrase 'at the peak over the given period' is also used incorrectly in context. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring correct spelling and word formation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'In year 1800 the most number...' (missing article), 'there is dramatic increased' (incorrect verb form), and 'that made together population of New York' (awkward syntax). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of hyphens and commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction limits the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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