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 illustraion gives information about the population of New York City and also its five districts population during the same period of time. Overall, population of New York city increased with passage of year also population of districts of this city increased, percentage of total population in all districts increased with the exception of Manhattan, in such district percentage decreased.
It is quite evident from the table population changed over the passage of time and it increased from 79,216 to 8,009,185 between the year 1800 to 2000. The Manhattan district of this city percentage of total population decreased from 76% to 19% between the year 1800 to 2000, but the population increased over 60,515 to 1,538,096.
Meanwhile, other districts like Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island in such case the percentage of total population increased from 24% to 81% with the passage of years, and also in such the population was also increased from the 18,701 in year 1800, 1,587,109 in year 1900 and 6,471,089 in year 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student attempts to address the task by summarizing the total population of New York City and its five districts between 1800 and 2000. An overview is provided, noting the overall increase in population and the differing trends in percentage share between Manhattan and the other districts. Key data points, such as the total population figures and the shift in percentages from 1800 to 2000, are correctly identified and reported. However, the overview is somewhat simplistic, and the selection of data is a bit repetitive in places. While all major features are touched upon, the development of comparisons could be more precise. Therefore, this satisfies the criteria for Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The text is divided into three paragraphs, including an introduction/overview and two body paragraphs covering the main data points. There is an overall logical progression, moving from total population to specific district comparisons. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or awkward, as seen in phrases like 'with passage of year' and 'in such case the percentage'. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal cohesion within sentences feels clunky due to repetitive transitional phrases. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'in such the population'. Overall, the organization is coherent, fitting the Band 6 descriptor.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with appropriate numbers and basic terms related to population and percentages ('population', 'districts', 'percentage', 'increased'). However, there are frequent word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'The illustraion gives information' (misspelling 'illustration') and repetitive use of the verb 'increased'. Attempts at less common vocabulary are minimal. Errors in word formation and spelling do not severely impede communication, but they restrict the lexical score to a Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though many complex structures are clumsy or grammatically flawed. Examples of errors include 'Overall, population of New York city increased with passage of year also population of districts...' which lacks necessary articles and punctuation. Prepositional errors and awkward phrasing are frequent, such as 'over the passage of time and it increased from...'. While meaning is generally conveyed and some sentences are accurate, the high density of grammatical errors places this response firmly at Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.