Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-10
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 tables illustrates variation in total population of New York City and variations in population of five districts of the City between 1800 and 2000.
Overall, there is dramatic increase in total population of New York City and its districts over the period. However, residents of Manhattan decreased in last decade.
In 1800, people living in all districts of New York City were 79,216. The figure increased to [redacted phone] in 1900. In 2000,number of population went up to [redacted phone].
Manhattan district, which was the largest district of the city on the basis of population, accounted for 60,515, contained 76% of the total population while other districts had 18701 number of population in 1800. The figures increased to [redacted phone] for Manhattan and [redacted phone] for other districts in 1900. In 2000, population of Manhattan decreased to about 19% of total population, accounted for [redacted phone], however, the figure of people living in other districts inclined to [redacted phone], consisting 81% of the total population.
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 to support the description. However, the analysis is somewhat limited. While you identify the overall growth and the shift in population distribution, you miss the opportunity to compare the specific growth rates of the individual districts (e.g., the rapid rise of Brooklyn or Queens). The data selection is generally accurate, but the presentation of the figures is occasionally cluttered, making it harder to follow the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts. To reach a higher band, ensure you highlight the most significant changes across all five districts rather than grouping them into a binary 'Manhattan vs. others' category.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition between sentences in the final paragraph feels a bit abrupt. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between the data points could be improved by using more varied linking phrases to show contrast or progression. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be more cohesive to guide the reader through the data more smoothly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You rely on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'went up' multiple times. While you successfully use terms like 'accounted for' and 'distribution', there is a lack of more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific vocabulary related to demographic trends. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'inclined to' (which is not the correct collocation for population growth; 'rose to' or 'climbed to' would be better). Expanding your range of synonyms for growth and decline will improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are several grammatical errors throughout the text. For instance, 'The tables illustrates' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'number of population' (awkward phrasing). You use a mix of simple and complex sentences, but the complex structures often contain errors, such as 'accounted for 1538096, however, the figure... inclined to 6471089', which is a comma splice. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct punctuation when using linking words like 'however' will significantly enhance your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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