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 first table provides data about the total population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. The two tables provide information about the population as well as the change in population in five districts of the city over the same period.
Overall, the population of New York City increased every century and reached the highest level at the end of the period. Manhattan had the highest share at the beginning of the period and the lowest in the ending of the period, while the other four districts witnessed the opposite trend as compared to Manhattan.
In 1800, the total population of New York's five districts was 79216, with Manhattan accounting for 60515 with 76% of the total population, while the other four districts had a population of 18701 with a proportion of 24%. In 1900, the individuals of New York stood at 3,437,202. Although the population of Manhattan increased and stayed at 1,850,093, the share of total inhabitants decreased to 54%. The proportion of the other four districts showed significant growth with 46% in total population, with a figure of [redacted phone] in 2000.
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 trend and the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is incomplete. You have provided data for 1800 and 1900, but you have failed to include the final data point for 2000, which is essential for a complete summary of the period. Furthermore, the final sentence contains a confusing reference to the 2000 figure, which appears to be misattributed or incorrectly calculated. To reach a higher band, ensure all key years are represented and that comparisons are mathematically accurate.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. The progression of ideas is generally clear, and you use cohesive devices such as 'while', 'although', and 'in addition' to link information. However, the transition between the overview and the body paragraph could be smoother. Additionally, the referencing in the final paragraph is slightly mechanical, and the connection between the 1900 data and the 2000 figure is not clearly signposted, which affects the flow of the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'inhabitants', and 'witnessed'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the individuals of New York' (which is unnatural; 'population' or 'number of residents' would be better) and 'in the ending of the period' (which should be 'at the end of the period'). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'although' clauses. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'the individuals of New York stood at...' and 'the other four districts witnessed the opposite trend as compared to Manhattan'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Punctuation is generally accurate, but ensure that your sentence structures remain varied and error-free to demonstrate better control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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