Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-06
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 demonstrates the changes in the population of New York and the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) between 1800 and 2000.
Overall, There was a significant change in population of New York from 1800 to 2000. Manhattan stay most populated district if we compare with other districts. On the second hand people lived in these districts rapidly increase.
In 1800, New York total population was 79,216 and 60,515 people was living in Manhattan only. If we calculate this number in percentage it becomes 76% of the whole population. The remaining people which was 18701 lived other four districts. It is only 24%.
In the year 1900, Now the population had increased from 79,216 to 3,437,202. Moreover the 54% people from the total residents lived in Manhattan. The rest of the public spent their life in diff four districts.
During 2000, The figure touched the number 8.009,185, Only 19% of the inhabitants lived in Manhattan and 81% stayed in other districts
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 trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You have included some data points, but the comparison between the districts is limited. For instance, you mention the other four districts collectively but do not highlight the specific growth of individual areas like Brooklyn or Queens, which are significant features of the data. To reach a higher band, ensure you select and compare the most striking features rather than just listing numbers for each time period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the chronological structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'On the second hand' (which is an incorrect collocation) and 'Now the population had increased'. The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly, and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'these districts') is always clear and accurate.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. Phrases like 'the figure touched the number' and 'spent their life in diff four districts' are informal or imprecise. There is also a reliance on basic verbs like 'lived' and 'increased'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more academic collocations and precise terminology related to data description, such as 'experienced a surge', 'accounted for', or 'the remaining districts'. Avoid abbreviations like 'diff'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('60,515 people was living', '54% people... lived') and punctuation errors (e.g., '8.009,185'). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and while there is an attempt at complex sentences, they are often marred by errors. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that numbers are formatted correctly according to standard English conventions. Proofreading for small errors like missing articles ('the' other four districts) will also help.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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