Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-09
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)
These tables illustrates the changes in the population of New York City and changes in population of five districts of the city over the period of 200 years.
Overall, in 1800 Manhattan was in leading position covering 76% population of New York City. However, it loses it position and reached at 19% of total population. Other districts shows a gradual increase of population in 200 years.
Began at 76% of total population and 60515 Manhattan population increased but it reached 19% of total population and [redacted phone] between 1800 and 2000. While the other districts Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island covered 24% of total population in 1800. Despite this, it had a sharp increase over the time period of 200 years and hit 81% of total population.
In 1900 Manhattan was still at the highest of 54% than other districts but it starts falling and reached at 19% in 2000. Other districts shows a fluctuations in increase but hit 81% in 2000.
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 and provides data points to support the description. However, the analysis is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical focus. While the overall trend of Manhattan's decline and the other districts' growth is identified, the comparison between the specific districts is missing, as they are grouped together as 'other districts' throughout the text. To reach a higher band, you should highlight specific differences between the districts (e.g., the rapid growth of Brooklyn compared to Staten Island) rather than treating them as a single block. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive phrasing and awkward transitions. For instance, the phrase 'Despite this' is used incorrectly to connect the population data. Cohesive devices are present but often feel mechanical or misused. The progression of ideas is clear enough to follow, but the lack of variety in linking words makes the text feel somewhat disjointed. Improving the use of referencing (e.g., using 'the latter' or 'these areas' instead of repeating 'other districts') would significantly enhance the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. There is significant repetition of basic terms like 'population', 'districts', and 'increase'. Phrases such as 'in leading position' and 'hit 81%' are slightly informal or imprecise for an academic report. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'it loses it position' (should be 'its') and 'shows a fluctuations' (should be 'show fluctuations'). Expanding your range of synonyms and using more precise collocations would improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'These tables illustrates' (should be 'illustrate') and 'Other districts shows' (should be 'show'). Additionally, there are errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'reached at 19%' (should be 'reached 19%') and 'at the highest of 54%' (should be 'at a high of 54%'). While these errors do not prevent understanding, they occur frequently enough to limit the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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