Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-04
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 charts illustrates the information about changes in population in New York divided in five different districts of the city in 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the combined population in the city had a dramatic raise in provided year. While Manhattan's numbers had a significant downfall, other districts had a sharp rose in population.
It can be seen that, the first table demonstrates the numbers of city's overall population had a gradual increase in 1900 by 3,437,202 whereas in 2000 it had a sharp raise by 8,009,185.
While the second and third table shows in which region had a considerable increase in population, Manhattan was accounted for the proportion of 76% in the year 1800 whereas it slightly decrease in 1900 from 54% to 19% in 2000. Additionally, other districts contributed in increase of population in New York by 24% in the year 1800 whereas it rose marginally in 1900 by 46% to 81% in 2000 which was approximately 6,471,089.
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 distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat hampered by inaccuracies in data interpretation. For instance, stating that Manhattan had a 'downfall' in numbers is misleading, as the table shows a population increase from 60,515 to 1,537,195, even if its percentage share of the total decreased. Additionally, the calculation of the 81% figure is slightly confusing in its presentation. While the main trends are identified, the lack of precision in reporting the data points limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'While', 'It can be seen that', and 'Additionally' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For example, the transition between the general population trends and the specific district percentages is somewhat abrupt. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression within the final paragraph is slightly hindered by the way the statistical data is integrated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, but there are several instances of incorrect word choice and collocation. Phrases like 'dramatic raise' (should be 'rise'), 'significant downfall' (inaccurate context), and 'sharp rose' (should be 'sharp rise') indicate a lack of precision. The student attempts to use more sophisticated vocabulary, but the errors in word form and collocation occasionally impede the clarity of the report. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using nouns and verbs correctly in the context of describing statistical trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'The table charts illustrates' (subject-verb agreement), 'in provided year' (missing article), and 'Manhattan was accounted for' (incorrect passive voice). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is often clunky. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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