Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-14
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 illustrates comparison between New York city, district of Manhattan and rest of the four districts.
In the year 1800 the population of New York city is 79216 which is highest compare to the Manhattan's population of 60515 having 76% of the total population. The population of other four district is relatively low with 18701 representing 24% of the total population.
The population increased in 1900 in the New York city, Manhattan and other four districts by [redacted phone], [redacted phone] and [redacted phone] respectively. This includes 54% of the total population in Manhattan and 46% in other four districts. Surprisingly the percentage of total population is decreasing in Manhattan from 76% to 54% and increasing in other four districts from 24% to 46% in other four districts.
In the year 2000 the population of New York is [redacted phone] whereas, it is [redacted phone] in Manhattan which is less as compare to the year 1900. The population in other four districts in the same year is [redacted phone] which is relatively more than the pervious year. Following the trend the percentage of total population in Manhattan reaches 19% from 54%. Conversely the the total percentage of other four districts boosts from 46% to 81%.
As per the information in the tables the overall population from 1800 to 2000 increases in New York, Manhattan and other 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 features of the tables well by identifying key trends and data points across the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. The student correctly reports the total population and highlights the shift in proportion from Manhattan to the other four districts. However, the breakdown could have been slightly more thorough regarding individual districts since the prompt mentions all five (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island), though the student grouped them into Manhattan versus 'the other four districts'. This is an acceptable summary approach, but it lacks full development of individual district data. Overall, the main features are captured adequately, aligning best with Band 6.0 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized chronologically, moving from 1800 to 1900 and finally to 2000, with a clear concluding sentence. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate each time period. However, cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or repetitive, such as the constant use of 'In the year...' to introduce paragraphs. Referencing is occasionally slightly unclear or repetitive ('in other four districts'). While the overall arrangement is coherent, the overuse of simple transitional patterns limits the score to Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting words related to data trends such as 'comparison', 'represents', 'proportion', and 'conversely'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation issues, such as 'the population... is highest compare to' instead of 'compared to', and 'boosts from 46% to 81%' where 'rises' or 'surges' would be more natural. Less common lexical items are attempted but with some inaccuracy. This performance corresponds to a Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses ('which is highest compare to...') and participial phrases ('having 76% of the total population'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tense consistency ('the population... is 79216' instead of 'was') and prepositions ('less as compare to'). Articles are also occasionally missing or misused ('the other four district'). These errors persist throughout, though they rarely impede overall communication, placing the response firmly at Band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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