Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-23
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 illustrates changes in the overall residence of New York City between 1800 and 2000, while the second and third tables demonstrate the data of people alteration in the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island) over the same time.
Overall, the people in the New York City are increased a lot from 1800 to 2000. The percentage of total population has some fluctuation in the same period. Also other district's residency have grown more from 1800 to 2000.
To begin with the New York City, the figure was 79216 in 1800 here from all the other district and then it increased significantly to [redacted phone] in 1900. Moreover, this was then rose dramatically in 2000 to [redacted phone].
On the other hand, in Manhattan, the total percentage in 1800 was 76% at the number of 60515 while it was 24% in all the other district with figure of 18701 in the same time. Additionally, in 1900, Manhattan went up drastically to [redacted phone] at the 54% and in the same period the population in other districts also inclined soo much to [redacted phone]. Also, the number in the Manhattan city dropped back to [redacted phone] at the percentage of 19% but in the other cities it climbed rapidly to [redacted phone] at the percentage of 81%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The student addresses the main parts of the task by reporting the overall population figures for New York City and comparing Manhattan with the other districts across the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. An overview is present, noting the overall population growth and the shifting distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, some of the data reporting is imprecise, such as stating 'the figure was 79216 in 1800 here from all the other district', which confuses the total city population with other districts. Furthermore, the selection of data is sometimes clumsy, but key comparative trends are successfully identified. This performance aligns best with Band 5.5, rounded to 6.0 for fully attempting all aspects of the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response is arranged into four paragraphs, following a logical layout (introduction, overview, body paragraph for overall population, body paragraph for district comparison). Cohesive devices are used to connect ideas, such as 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'Additionally'. However, referencing is sometimes unclear or confusing, as seen in 'the figure was 79216 in 1800 here from all the other district'. Paragraphing is present and appropriate, providing a coherent overall arrangement even though mechanical and repetitive cohesive patterns ('also', 'in the same period') are noticeable. This corresponds to a Band 6.0 level.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic trends, such as 'increased significantly', 'dropped back', and 'climbed rapidly'. However, there are notable lexical inaccuracies and awkward word choices, such as 'overall residence', 'people alteration', and 'other district's residency have grown more'. The writer attempts less common vocabulary (e.g., 'dramatically', 'drastically'), but these attempts are occasionally flawed in collocation or form. Spelling is generally accurate, but the range of vocabulary remains limited and repetitive. This fits the Band 5.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like subordinate clauses and comparative constructions. However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes impede clarity. Examples include 'the people in the New York City are increased a lot', 'this was then rose dramatically', and 'at the number of 60515 while it was 24% in all the other district with figure of 18701'. Prepositional and article errors ('in the Manhattan city', 'at the percentage of') also recur throughout the text. These frequent errors in grammar and word formation place the response firmly at Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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