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 first table illustrates the changes in total residents of New York from 1800 to 2000, while second and third table show difference in the society of the five districts namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the same span. Overall, the largest number of citizens resides in 2000 and apart from Manhattan, other districts had 81% of public in the city in same year.
In 1800, a least number of people resided in New York for around 79,216, which significantly inclined in the next year to 3,437,202. In 2000, New York witnessed a rapid growth in the community to 8,009,185 respectively.
While Manhattan experienced contrasting patterns when comparing the absolute population to its share of other districts. In 1800, Manhattan's community was large in size at 60,515 and 76% of absolute population. To the contrary, other five districts experienced a notable decrease by 18,701 and only 24% was the entire public. In 1900, Manhattan overall residents were inclined sharply at 1,850,093 and 54% in proportion, while other zones residents were 1,587,109 and 46%.
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 features of the data, but the analysis is somewhat inconsistent. While you identify the overall growth, the description of the data is occasionally confusing, particularly when discussing the 'other districts' and the percentages. The statement 'other districts had 81% of public' is unclear, and the reference to 'next year' instead of '1900' is a factual error based on the provided tables. To improve, ensure that the data points are accurately transcribed and that comparisons between the total population and the district breakdowns are clearly articulated. The overview is present but lacks sufficient clarity regarding the trends across all five districts.
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 sometimes mechanical or inaccurate. For example, the transition 'To the contrary' is used incorrectly in this context, as it does not logically contrast the preceding sentence. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally ambiguous, such as when referring to 'other five districts' without clearly defining which ones are being grouped. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that linking words are used with precision will help achieve a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'significantly inclined', 'contrasting patterns', and 'proportion'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'society of the five districts' (should be 'population') and 'public in the city' (should be 'residents' or 'population'). The phrase 'inclined sharply' is also slightly unnatural in this context. While the meaning is generally clear, the vocabulary lacks the precision required for higher bands. Focusing on more academic collocations and accurate terminology for data description will be beneficial.
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. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'second and third table show'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'a least number of people resided... for around 79,216'). There are also errors with articles and pluralisation. While the errors do not completely prevent understanding, they are frequent enough to limit the score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring that sentence structures are grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.