Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-01
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 tables below list the total population and fluctuation of population in new york city and other five districts of the urban area (Manhattan, Brooklyn,Queens,Staten Island) from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, it is clear that all five districts of New York City population were drastically increased from 1800 to 2000. Manhattan were accounted for big proportion of population in 1800 while, minimum population percantage of total population were noticed in 2000. Moreover, other districts population percentage showed substantial rise with the passage of year, maximum percentage was noted in 2000.
It was noticed that with the rapidly moving year New York city (all five district) population showed significant increase. In 1900 population were around 3,437,202 on the other hand roughly half of total population in 2000. additionally, very less number of total population were noted in 1800 exact 79,216.
Furthermore, in Manhattan 76% of total population in 1800 were noted while 19% in 2000, it means that drastic decline was observed in 1800 because in 1900 54% of total population were accounted. On the other hand, Various other districts showed greatly increase in their population comparatively Manhattan showed decline with the passing of years. In 1800 24% of the total population were observed. Moreover, roughly two times greater were observed in 1900 which is 46% while, very huge portion of 81% were consisted in year 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the population changes in New York City and its districts from 1800 to 2000. An overview is present at the beginning of the second paragraph, highlighting the general upward trend and the shifting proportions in Manhattan versus other districts. However, some parts of the task are developed more fully than others. While the overall numbers and percentages are mentioned, some comparisons are slightly confused or under-developed, such as the awkward phrasing regarding the population in 1900 being 'roughly half of total population in 2000'. The selection of data is relevant, but the lack of precise analytical depth keeps the response at this level, as key trends could have been integrated more smoothly.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, dividing the introduction, overview, total population data, and district breakdown into distinct sections. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical and referencing is not always clear. Phrases like 'on the other hand' and 'Moreover' are used frequently to link ideas, but they occasionally create choppy transitions or logical confusion, such as in the final paragraph where the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts is muddled by repetitive transitional markers. The progression of ideas is discernible, yet the flow between sentences requires firmer and more precise cohesive ties to achieve a higher standard.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'proportion', 'percentage', and 'substantial rise'. However, there are notable inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word forms throughout the text. Examples include 'fluctuation of population in new york city and other five districts' instead of 'the five districts', 'Manhattan were accounted for' instead of 'accounted for a large proportion', and 'greatly increase' instead of 'a great increase'. Spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'percantage' and 'rapidly moving year', occur but do not severely impede communication, though they restrict the score to this band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like relative clauses and comparative constructions. However, there are frequent grammatical errors in subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, and prepositions. Examples include 'all five districts of New York City population were drastically increased' (passive voice error), 'Manhattan were accounted for' (incorrect auxiliary), 'population were around' (plural verb with singular noun phrase), and 'were consisted in year 2000'. Punctuation and article use are also occasionally faulty, and while these errors rarely impede communication, the persistent presence of grammatical inaccuracies across multiple sentence types prevents the writing from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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