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 provided table chart depicts the changes in the population of New York, Manhattan and other districts from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, it is quite evident that the population of New York experienced growth at higher rate, whereas the population of Manhattan was increased at lower rates.
Overall, it is quite evident that the population of New York experienced growth at higher rate, whereas the population of Manhattan was increased at lower rates.
To begin, in year 1800 the population of New York was 79,216 followed by Manhattan and other districts at 60515 and 18,701 respectively. Moreover, the population of new York increased sharply to [redacted phone] in 1900. The population of Manhattan in 1900 was 1,850,093 which was 54% of the total population. Moreover population of other districts were increased and reached 1,587,109 and was 46% of the total population.
Moving towards the further details, the population of New York at the end of period in 2000 reached at peak around 8,009,185 highest population recorded as compared with others. Whereas, population of Manhattan was decreased in 2000 at 1,538,096 almost 19% of the total population and was the lowest population among all. Furthermore, the population of other districts rose up and reached 6,471,089 which was 81% of the total population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The candidate successfully covers the main features of the provided tables, highlighting the overall growth of New York City alongside the shifting dynamics between Manhattan and the other districts between 1800 and 2000. Key data points, such as the initial populations, the 1900 figures, and the final peak in 2000, are accurately cited and compared. However, there is a noticeable repetition in the introduction, where the opening sentence is virtually duplicated, which detracts slightly from the flow. Despite this minor structural flaw, all parts of the prompt are addressed with relevant data selection and appropriate comparisons, aligning well with the expectations of a Band 6.5 or 7.0 task response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, starting with an overview, moving to the 1900 data, and concluding with the 2000 statistics. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin', 'Moreover', and 'Moving towards the further details' are employed to structure the text, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive ('Moreover' is used multiple times in close proximity). Paragraphing is utilised adequately to separate the introduction, body details, and final overview. Referencing is generally clear, though the repetitive opening sentences create some initial confusion. Overall, the essay demonstrates a coherent arrangement that guides the reader adequately through the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, successfully conveying numerical changes with terms like 'growth', 'increased', 'peak', and 'rose up'. The candidate attempts some less common vocabulary and mathematical phrasing, such as '54% of the total population' and 'highest population recorded'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'growth at higher rate' instead of 'at a higher rate', and 'population of Manhattan was decreased' instead of 'decreased'. Spelling is generally accurate, but the lexical range remains somewhat limited and repetitive, preventing the response from reaching a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating relative clauses ('which was 54% of the total population') and comparative forms. However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text. Examples include missing articles ('in year 1800' instead of 'in the year 1800'), awkward passive constructions ('population of Manhattan was decreased'), and prepositional errors ('reached at peak'). While these errors do not impede communication, their frequency prevents the majority of sentences from being error-free, placing the response firmly within the Band 6 range for grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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