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 changes in the overall population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. In addition, the second and third tables show changes in the population of the five districts of the city, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island over the same period.
Overall, New York City reveals its largest population in 2000 and smallest in 1800. Additionally, Manhattan expresses its highest percentage population in 1800 and lowest in 2000, while other districts shows highest ratio in 2000 and lowest in 1800.
New York city has the smallest population in 1800, 79,216 people which increased significantly in 1900 into 3,437,202, Finally, it became the highest, 8,009,185 in 2000.
The distribution of the population in Manhattan depicts in the highest percentage, 76% in 1800, and it gradually became lower into 54% in 1900 and 19% in 2000. In contrast, Other districts had the lowest percentage of population, 24% in 1800, and it gradually increased into 46% in 1900 and 81% in 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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, including the overall population growth and the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you correctly identify the trends, you could improve by providing more specific comparisons between the districts in the second table, rather than grouping them as 'other districts'. The overview is clear, but the report lacks a deeper synthesis of the data provided in the tables. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately reflected and that comparisons are more nuanced.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Overall', 'In contrast', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, but the connection between the overall population growth and the specific district percentages could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general population data from the district-specific data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication. You use some relevant terms like 'percentage', 'distribution', and 'significantly'. However, there are some awkward word choices, such as 'reveals its largest population' and 'depicts in the highest percentage'. These phrases are not standard collocations in this context. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring that verbs are used correctly with their objects. The range is sufficient but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'other districts shows' (subject-verb agreement) and 'increased... into' (preposition error). Additionally, 'depicts in the highest percentage' is grammatically incorrect. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they are frequent enough to limit the score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions when describing trends and data changes.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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