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 provided three table charts illustrate changes in the total population of New York from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables demonstrate changes in the population of the five districts of the USA such as Manhattan, Brooklyn,Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the same period.
Overall. it is evident that while Manhattan had the highest population compare than other districts, Manhattan population declined at the end. New York city population was continuously growing over the period. Other districts population experienced steady increased.
To begin with, New York recorded the largest share of population at 79,216 in 1800 and it reached peak in 2000 with 8,009,185 before reaching 3,437,202 in 1900. Manhattan population in 1800 at 60,515 with 78%, it increased to 1,850,093 with 54% in 1900 before reaching at 19%in 2000 with 1,538,096.
Turning to the next details, Other districts like Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island. Year in 1800 population was 18,701 with 24% share, then it rose to 1,587,109 at 46% in 1900. Population reached on peak in 2000 around 6,471,090 in 81%
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the overall growth of New York City and the shifting population proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is hampered by significant inaccuracies in reporting the data. For instance, you state the population reached a peak in 2000 before reaching 3,437,202 in 1900, which is chronologically confusing. Additionally, the description of the 'other districts' is somewhat vague and lacks a clear comparison of the specific trends for each borough. To improve, ensure that the data points are accurately transcribed and that the relationship between the total population and the individual districts is clearly explained.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is frequently interrupted by awkward phrasing and unclear referencing. While you use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'Turning to the next details', the progression of ideas is often disjointed. The sentence structure within paragraphs is sometimes repetitive, and the connection between the total population table and the district tables is not always smooth. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly improve the readability and coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'recorded', 'reached', and 'increased'. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'compare than' instead of 'compared to' and 'reached on peak'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'surged', 'fluctuated', or 'accounted for', and ensure that your collocations are natural and accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'Manhattan population'), incorrect preposition usage (e.g., 'reached at 19%'), and subject-verb agreement errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of periods and commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of these errors prevents the writing from achieving a higher score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for small grammatical slips would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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