Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11
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 illustration gives information about changes in the population of New York city throughout the given period. Overall, the population of New York City soared througout the given time span, but Manhattan pecentage of total population decreased. Manhattan became lowest popular disctrict of New York City.
It is quite evident from the table that in 1800, the population of all five districts were about 79,216. Manhattan percentage of total population was 76%, while Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island percentage of total population were around 24%. However, Manhattan population went up significantly and reached about 1,850,093 population over the 100-year period, but the percentage of total population fells to about 54%.
Futhermore, other districts population also increased and reached approximately 1,587,109 in 1900. The total population of New York City was around 3,437,202 over the 10 decades. In 2000, Manhattan percentage went down to roughly 19%, while the percentage of other districts were climb up to 81%.
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 percentage distribution across districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For example, the statement that Manhattan became the 'lowest popular district' is factually incorrect based on the provided data, as it remained the most populous in absolute terms throughout the period. The report lacks a clear comparison of the individual districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, etc.) in the final paragraph, grouping them together instead. While the main features are identified, the lack of precision in interpreting the data and the failure to distinguish between the five districts limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is appropriate for a summary task. There is a logical progression from the overview to the specific data points. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'Futhermore' is used to introduce a new paragraph, but the connection between the ideas is weak. Additionally, referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the vague grouping of 'other districts'. Paragraphing is present, but the internal flow between sentences could be improved to ensure a smoother reading experience.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for higher bands. There are several spelling errors, such as 'througout', 'pecentage', 'disctrict', and 'Futhermore'. The student relies on basic phrasing like 'went up significantly' and 'went down'. While the student attempts to use terms like 'time span' and 'percentage of total population', the word choice is often repetitive. The misuse of 'lowest popular' instead of 'least populous' or 'smallest share' further impacts the clarity of the report.
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 impede clarity. Examples include 'the population of all five districts were' (subject-verb agreement), 'Manhattan percentage of total population was' (missing articles), and 'percentage of other districts were climb up' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the frequency of errors in basic grammar—particularly with articles and verb tenses—prevents the response from reaching a higher band. The student needs to focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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