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 tables illustrate transformation in the whole population of New York City and the five districts of the city which include manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the period of 1800 to 2000
Overall, the population of new York City had been increased dramatically in 200years. In 1800, there were some thousands citizens residing in New York. However, the number of individuals escalated and the figure changed from thousands to millions.
In the year 1800, there were 76 percent Manhattan's in the total population but the population of Manhattan's decreased with the passage of time and in the year 2000, only 19 percent of the entire population were Manhattan's that showed a great difference over the years.
Now if we come toward the other destricts that how much their residents had impacted the amount of population? In 1800, only 24 percent of population were from Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. However in 1900s, the percentage rise from 24 to 46. Surprisingly, in the year 2000, the amount of people from these four districts had increased so dramatically that 81 percent of population were from these four districts.
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 total population growth and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other four districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The student relies on percentages but fails to mention the actual population figures provided in the first table, which are crucial for a complete summary. Additionally, the grouping of the four districts is a good attempt at synthesis, but the description of the trends lacks precision. The response would benefit from a more detailed comparison of the specific data points rather than just general statements about growth.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In the year 1800', 'However', 'In the year 2000'). The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the final paragraph where the phrase 'amount of people' is used to refer to percentages, which is technically inaccurate. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns or references clearly point to the intended data would improve the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'Manhattan's' used as a noun for residents, and 'destricts' (spelling error). The student uses basic descriptors like 'dramatically' and 'great difference' repeatedly. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to data reporting, such as 'proportion', 'demographic shift', or 'significant increase', and ensure correct word forms are used when describing the inhabitants of the districts.
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 new York City had been increased' (incorrect tense), 'there were 76 percent Manhattan's' (incorrect noun usage), and 'the percentage rise from 24 to 46' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of apostrophes and capitalization of proper nouns. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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