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)
The first table shows modifications in the overall population of NY city from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables demonstrate changes in the population of the five different districts of the city over the same period.
Overall, there is massive increase in population throughout five districts in the year 2000. Manhattan shows minimal population in the year 1800 while the other districts show highest percentage of total population.
The first table illustrates that in New York city, population of all five districts was just 79,216 in the year 1800 which increased massively in the year 2000 reaching the value of 8,009,185. Furthermore, in the second table, the population of Manhattan accounted for 76% in the year 1800 which fell to 19% in the year 2000.
In the last table, other districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island show percentages of 24% of total population which rose to 81% in the year 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 addresses the task by identifying the main trends, such as the total population growth and the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The report lacks a detailed comparison of the individual districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, etc.) and relies on grouping them together, which misses the opportunity to highlight specific variations shown in the data. Furthermore, the statement that Manhattan had a 'minimal population' in 1800 is inaccurate; it had the highest population at that time. The overview is present but could be more precise regarding the key trends observed over the two centuries.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'In the last table' are used to link ideas, though the flow is occasionally mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from the total population to the specific district percentages. However, the referencing is sometimes slightly confusing, particularly when referring to 'the last table' rather than specific data points. Overall, the structure is sufficient to guide the reader through the information provided.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'modifications', 'accounted for', and 'total population'. However, there is a lack of variety and some imprecise word choices. For instance, 'modifications' is not the most natural term for population changes; 'fluctuations' or 'trends' would be more appropriate. The phrase 'reaching the value of' is slightly awkward in this context. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it does not demonstrate the flexibility or precision required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'there is massive increase' (missing an article) and 'throughout five districts' (should be 'the five districts'). The use of articles is inconsistent throughout the text. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The sentence structures are generally functional, but there is limited evidence of more sophisticated grammatical control or a wide range of complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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