Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-04
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 given three tables illustrate the changes of overall population from five districts in New York City. Units are given in numbers on first table. However, in the second and third tables are measured by percentage. The data was taken in every 10 decades from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, by the end of the given period the ratio of total population was increased in all Brooklyn, Bronx, Queensand Staten Island districts. Although the total proportion of population was decreased by 2000 in Manhattan disctrict of a New York City.
To start with, in 1800, 79,216 population was there in all five districts. Later, it was continuous surging up till the 2000 by 8,009,185.
To be continued, Except Manhattan districts, all the other districts the number of population was inclined by (18,701) 24%, (1,587,109) 46%, (6,471,089) 81% from the year 1800, 1900, and 2000, respectively. In contrast, Manhattan had 60,515 population which was 76% of total population in the year 1800. The number of population was 1,850,0953 after a 10 decades, but the propotion was 54% and at the end of the given period was 1,538,096 (19%) only.
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 and trends across the provided tables from 1800 to 2000, and includes appropriate comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts. An overview is present, highlighting the contrasting population trends between Manhattan and the remaining four districts. However, some aspects of the task are developed more fully than others; for instance, the description of the overall population figures in the third paragraph is somewhat brief and relies on listing raw data rather than fully synthesizing the broader trends. Overall, the content is relevant and accurately grounded in the visual data provided, fulfilling the requirements for this level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear progression from an introduction to an overview and subsequent body paragraphs. Information is logically grouped, with the first body paragraph addressing the total population and the second focusing on the breakdown between Manhattan and the other districts. However, cohesion at times feels mechanical or awkward due to unnatural transitional phrases such as 'To start with', 'To be continued', and 'after a 10 decades'. Paragraphing is used to separate ideas, but referencing and logical flow between sentences could be smoother to achieve a higher level of integration.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic data trends effectively. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary and statistical terms, such as 'proportion', 'ratio', and 'surging up', but these are occasionally accompanied by word choice and collocation inaccuracies, including 'changes of overall population', '10 decades', and 'propotion'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but minor lexical slips occur that indicate a limited range, restricting the score to this band level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some attempt at variety with structures like concessive clauses and passive voice constructions ('The data was taken', 'Units are given'). However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, particularly with prepositions, articles, and subject-verb agreement, such as 'changes of overall population from five districts', 'in first table', 'in all Brooklyn, Bronx, Queensand Staten Island', and 'all the other districts the number of population was inclined'. These errors require some effort to parse but rarely impede overall communication.
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