Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-30
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 illustrate the fluctuation in the number of population of New York from 1800 to 2000. The second and third table simultaneously show the changes in number of population of five districts during the same time period.
Overall, there is significant increase in the number of the population of the New York over the given time period. However, Manhattan experience the decline in figures while other districts showed the same trend to population of New York.
In 1800, New York had 79,216 proponents and considerably rose up to 3,437,202 in 1900. It is continue to grow and reach about 8,009,185 in 2000. On the other hand, Manhattan show plummet in its figures, in 1800, 76% were residents of Manhattan and it is markedly decrease in 1900 up to 54% and fall up to 19% in 2000.
Furthermore, other four districts experienced an upward trend like Ney York, in 1800, total population was 24% only while in 1900 and 2000, it was 46% and 81% respectively.
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 student covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the overall population changes and the district breakdown between 1800 and 2000. An overview is present, noting the general upward population trend and Manhattan's contrasting decline. Key data points are selected and compared, such as the total population growing from 79,216 to over 8 million, and Manhattan's percentage dropping from 76% to 19%. However, there are minor inaccuracies in reading the data, such as referring to people as 'proponents' and stating that Manhattan experienced a decline in absolute population figures when the table actually shows growth from 60,515 to 1,538,096 (though its percentage dropped). Despite this confusion between absolute numbers and proportions, the core trends are addressed adequately.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a clear overall arrangement with an introductory paragraph, an overview, and body paragraphs that separate the overall figures/Manhattan from the other districts. Paragraphing is used appropriately. However, cohesion within and between sentences is sometimes faulty or mechanical. For instance, transitional phrases like 'It is continue to grow' and 'On the other hand, Manhattan show plummet' lack smooth integration. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression is occasionally hindered by abrupt shifts and grammatical errors in cohesive links.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student displays an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items such as 'fluctuation', 'plummet', and 'upward trend'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors that detract from precision. For example, 'number of population' is used instead of 'population size', 'proponents' is incorrectly used instead of 'people' or 'residents', and 'experience the decline' lacks correct verb tense agreement. Spelling is generally accurate, but lexical control is limited, placing this firmly in the Band 6 category.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some variety in structure. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms, tense consistency, and subject-verb agreement. Examples include 'The first table illustrate' (should be illustrates), 'Manhattan experience' (should be experienced), 'It is continue' (should be continued), and 'Manhattan show plummet'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but grammatical slips occur frequently throughout the text, though they rarely impede overall communication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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