Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-18
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 very first table illustrates the change in the population of New York City from 18 to 20th century, followed by two tables which show the population change in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island from 1800 to the year 2000. Overall, the big change in the population was in the four districts of New york city as manhattan contributed more people to the total population.
In the 18th century, the total population of New York City was around 80 thousand, Manhattan alone contributed above 60 thousand people to the total population 76%. However, the combined population of other four districts was around 18,701 people contributed 24% to the total population. In ninteen century, the total population of New york city was around 3.5 million , Manhattan alone accounted almost 1.9 million 54% people to the total population. The other four districts combined people were around 1.6 million which contributed 46% to the total population.
In 20th century, the total population of new York City was slightly above from 8 million, Manhattan accounted for slightly above 1.5 million 19% people to the total population, followed by other four districts which contributed almost 6.5 million people 81% to the total population of New York City
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 the main features of the tables well by presenting overall trends and specific data points for Manhattan versus the other districts across the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. An overview is provided at the end of the first paragraph, noting the shift in population contribution towards the other four districts. However, there are some inaccuracies in temporal references (e.g., referring to 1800 as the '18th century' rather than the 19th century or early 19th-century period, and 'ninteen century' for 1900). Despite these minor chronological labeling slips, the core data is accurately reported and compared. The response satisfies all requirements of Task 1, making it a solid Band 6.5 to 7.0 performance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized with a clear division between the introduction, the 1800 and 1900 data, and the 2000 data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different time periods. Cohesive devices are utilized, such as 'However' and 'followed by', though some referencing and transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. For example, sentences frequently rely on the exact same structural template (e.g., 'Manhattan alone accounted...'). Overall progression is discernible and the response holds together adequately, representing a clear Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully using terms like 'contributed', 'accounted for', and percentages to describe the visual data. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation issues, such as 'the other four districts combined people were around 1.6 million' and spelling errors like 'ninteen'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat restricted and repetitive ('contributed', 'total population'), pointing to a Band 6.0 level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses ('while', 'followed by'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with missing prepositions, awkward phrasing ('slightly above from 8 million'), comma splices, and run-on sentences (e.g., 'Manhattan alone contributed above 60 thousand people to the total population 76%'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the score from reaching Band 6.5, anchoring the performance firmly at Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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