Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-16
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 below illustrates the fluctuations in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The other two tables mention the changes in the population of various districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Broanx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, New York City had less population in the intial year but substantially increased over the years. In addition, Manhattan district contained the largest population in 1900, which is also the dominant percentage in the total population as well. However, other districts such as: Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island had the most significant population in year 2000.
In year 2000, New York City had the highest population rate (8,009,185) in all five districts and year 1800 stood at last in the list by 79,216. Furthermore, Manhattan among other districts had more considerable population rate compared to New York. Manhattan had 1,850,093 population in 1900 which is also 54% of the total population. Along with it, other districts had the significant population in 2000 by 6,471,089 and the least in 1800 by 18,701.
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 student covers all parts of the task by reporting key data points from both tables, such as the overall population growth from 1800 to 2000, and making comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the general upward trend and the shifting weight of population from Manhattan to the other districts over the 200-year span. However, there are some minor imprecisions in interpreting the data, such as stating that 'Manhattan district contained the largest population in 1900' without noting that it was also the majority then, or slightly confusing phrasing regarding population rates. Overall, the main features are sufficiently selected and reported, earning a Band 6.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is arranged into four paragraphs, following a logical progression from introduction to overview and specific body details. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In addition', 'However', and 'Furthermore' are used to connect ideas, though some transitional phrasing feels slightly mechanical or awkward (e.g., 'Along with it, other districts had the significant population...'). Paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear separation between the introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Referencing is mostly clear, though occasional clunky transitions prevent the essay from achieving a higher band. This corresponds well to a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'fluctuations', 'substantially increased', 'dominant percentage', and 'considerable population'. There are, however, some lexical and spelling errors, such as 'Broanx' (misspelling of Bronx), 'intial' (misspelling of initial), and slightly imprecise word choices like 'population rate' when referring to absolute population figures. Less common items are attempted with mixed success. These errors do not impede communication, placing the response firmly at Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses ('which is also the dominant percentage') and comparative structures. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, such as 'New York City had less population in the intial year' (should be 'fewer' or 'a lower population'), 'stood at last in the list' (should be 'ranked lowest'), and missing or incorrect articles. While these errors occur regularly, they rarely impede overall understanding, allowing the response to secure a Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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