Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-03
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 table data demonstrates the changes in overall population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. It's also providing information about the comparison between the districts.
Firstly, the population in New York City in 2000 is significantly higher which [redacted phone] compared to 1800, whichi shows 79216. However, the number of population was [redacted phone] in 1900. Overall, the table indicates the massive surge in poppulation during the period.
Secondly, the data in table provide information about the districts of New York. At the early stages, the population in Manhattan was 76% in 1800 and it only 24% in other districts. As the time evolved, the numbers shows decrease in Manhattan to 54%, at the other hand, other foure districts showed increase in value 46%. In 2000, the manhattan population decreased to lowest of 19% and other districts reached to their higher of 81%.
Overall, the data provides a information of population shift from manhattan to other district for the period of three decades.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| 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 both the overall population table and the district breakdown. An overview is present, highlighting the massive surge in population and the demographic shift. However, some aspects are under-developed or inaccurately described. For instance, the writer states that the data covers a period of three decades, which misinterprets the 200-year span from 1800 to 2000. Additionally, comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts could have been more fully extended to meet higher band requirements. Key data points such as the 1900 total population (3,437,202) are correctly cited, though the supporting commentary remains somewhat basic.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The text exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure dividing the introduction, overview, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. However, cohesion is often mechanical and faulty. Transitional markers like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'at the other hand' are used rigidly, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the ambiguous pronoun reference in 'which 8009185'. Paragraphing is present, but logical progression between sentences occasionally falters due to awkward linking and phrasing, preventing the response from achieving a higher level of fluid progression.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying general trends using terms such as 'massive surge', 'population', and 'percentage'. However, the range is limited and contains noticeable errors in word choice, collocation, and spelling, including 'poppulation', 'foure', and 'manhattan' (capitalisation). The writer attempts less common vocabulary like 'significantly higher' and 'early stages', but recurring spelling slips and awkward phrasing such as 'providing information about the comparison' restrict the lexical score, as these minor inaccuracies occasionally disrupt the flow of reading.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and comparative structures. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that catch the reader's attention. Examples include structural flaws such as 'which 8009185 compared to 1800, whichi shows 79216', missing articles ('in table provide information'), and tense or agreement issues ('the numbers shows decrease'). While these errors rarely impede overall communication, the persistence of faulty complex structures and basic grammatical oversights keeps the grammatical accuracy at this specific level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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