Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-07
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 illustrates the changes in the total population of New York City between 1800 to 2000 and the second and third tables provide information regarding the population changes of the five districts of the city over the same period.
Overall, it is evident that all five districts population increased rapidly over the 200-year period. However, Manhattan people experienced increased over the period and percentage was declined, while other four districts witnessed in both population and proportion of total people.
According to New York City, It had 79,216 people in 1800, which dramatically increased 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 20000.
Turning to Manhattan, it had 60,515 population in 1800 (76% of total), then it sharp rise at 1,850,093 (54% of total population) by 1900. In 2000, total population dramatically decreased 19% of total and 1,538,096 people.
Regarding the other districts, they had 18,701 people (24% of total) in 1800 and then they surged 1,587,109 people and (46% of total population) in 1900. By 2000, the population peaked at 6,471,089 ( 81% of total population).
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall growth of the total population and the shifting proportions of the districts. However, the analysis is hampered by significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, the year '20000' is a clear typo, and the description of Manhattan's population in 2000 as '19% of total and 1,538,096 people' is confusingly phrased. While the overview identifies the main trends, the lack of precision in reporting the figures and the failure to clearly distinguish between the five individual districts (grouping them as 'other districts') limits the depth of the response. The task requires a more detailed breakdown of the specific districts provided in the tables.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. There is a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific data points. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as 'while other four districts witnessed in both population and proportion'. The transition between the general city data and the specific district data is functional, but the flow is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing and grammatical errors that make the logical progression feel slightly disjointed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and sophistication. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'population' and 'total'. The student attempts to use reporting verbs and descriptors like 'dramatically increased' and 'surged', which is positive. However, there are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'Manhattan people experienced increased' and 'percentage was declined'. These errors occasionally make the meaning slightly unclear, though they do not prevent the reader from understanding the general intent of the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Issues include incorrect verb forms ('percentage was declined'), missing prepositions, and awkward sentence construction ('it sharp rise at 1,850,093'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of parentheses and commas. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence structure prevents the response from reaching a higher band. The errors are persistent and require the reader to re-read certain sections to grasp the intended meaning.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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