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)
A total of 3 tables are there. The first table provides the population in the year 1800,1900 and 2000 of New York City. The second and third table display changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) from 1800 to 2000.
The popluation of New York City has increased by almost 100% from 1800 to 2000. The percentage of total population in New York staying in Manhattan has drastically decreased over the same period. The percentage of total population in New York residing in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island in 2000 has quadrupled from 1800.
In the year 1800, the population of New York City was around 80k. It has increased to 8 million in the year 2000, which is almost a 100% increase. In the year 1800, little over 75 percent of total population of New York City lived in Manhattan. In the year 1900, the percent of total population staying in Manhattan and other 4 districts was nearly equal.
The population residing in Manhatten in the year 2000 dropped from 1.8 million in the year 1900 to 1.5 million. By the year 2000, the population residing in other districts than Manhatten was almost 6.5 million and little over 80 percent of total population.
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 three tables, providing data points for the total population and district breakdowns across the specified years. You successfully noted key comparisons, such as the overall population growth from 80k to 8 million and the shift in population distribution away from Manhattan. However, there are some mathematical inaccuracies and over-generalizations in your data interpretation; for instance, stating that the population increased by 'almost 100%' when it actually multiplied a hundredfold, and asserting that the percentage quadrupled when the tables show distinct proportional shifts. Furthermore, paragraphing is somewhat fragmented, which detracts slightly from the overall overview. Nevertheless, the main trends are adequately identified, positioning this comfortably at a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response has a coherent overall arrangement and follows a logical sequence from the introduction to the general trends and specific district details. However, cohesion is at times mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on basic time markers ('In the year 1800...', 'In the year 1900...') rather than a smooth flow of information. Paragraphing is attempted, but dividing the response into four very short paragraphs interrupts the logical progression and makes the text feel disjointed. Reference pronouns are occasionally unclear, such as the ambiguous use of 'It' in paragraph three. To achieve a higher band, you need to link sentences and paragraphs more fluidly using a wider variety of cohesive devices.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your lexical range is adequate for the task, allowing you to discuss population changes using appropriate terms like 'population', 'districts', and 'percentage'. However, there are notable spelling errors, such as 'popluation' and 'Manhatten', which detract from the quality of the writing. Vocabulary choices are generally basic and repetitive, relying on words like 'increased', 'staying', and 'residing'. While you attempt some less common phrasing like 'drastically decreased', the overall lexical control shows limitations. To improve, focus on eliminating basic spelling mistakes and incorporating a more varied vocabulary suited to data description.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'The percentage of total population in New York staying in Manhattan has drastically decreased over the same period.' There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, including the opening sentence 'A total of 3 tables are there', which is unnatural and unacademic. Other errors include article misuse and minor structural awkwardness. Nevertheless, the majority of your sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and these errors rarely impede the reader's understanding. Control over grammar and punctuation needs to be more consistent for a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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