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 first table below illustrates the the breakdown of Newyork(all five districts) population from the year 1800 till 2000, while the second and third graph indicates the percentage of total population of 5 districts of New York named: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and staten island.
Overall, it is evident that the population has showed a subsantial growth through out the period. Moreover, the population of Manhattan was the highest in 1800 but declined gradually whereas, the population of the other districts intiated with very low number but steadily climbed to reach a peak at the end of 2000.
The population of New York city began with 79216 in 1800, in 1900 it was
[redacted phone] and at last in 2000 increased steadily to [redacted phone]. Additionally, Manhattan had 76% population in 1800 while other districts had 24%. In year 1900 Manhattan population declined by 22% whereas, other district population increased by 22%. In 2000 other district showed most dramatic growth, rising to 81% by end of the year, whereas the population of manhattan showed a dramatic decrease of 19%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by presenting an overview and reporting key figures and comparisons from the tables. However, some areas are under-developed or contain minor inaccuracies. For instance, the writer states that the population of Manhattan 'declined by 22%' in 1900, which misinterprets the percentage data (Manhattan dropped from 76% to 54%, a change of 22 percentage points, but its actual population grew significantly between 1800 and 1900). The overview successfully identifies the general upward population trend and the contrasting trajectories between Manhattan and the other districts, satisfying the core requirements for this level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has a coherent overall arrangement and is divided into logical paragraphs, starting with an introduction, moving to an overview, and concluding with detailed body data. However, progression is sometimes hindered by mechanical or faulty cohesion. For example, transition phrases are basic or repetitive, and referencing within sentences can be unclear, such as the sudden shift into specific figures without smooth bridging. Paragraphing is present, but the internal logical flow between sentences occasionally feels disjointed, reflecting characteristics typical of this band level.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
An adequate range of vocabulary is deployed for the task, with attempts to use less common items such as 'substantial growth' and 'dramatic decrease'. However, there are notable spelling errors and word-choice inaccuracies, including 'Newyork' (New York), 'subsantial' (substantial), 'intiated' (initiated), and 'staten island' (Staten Island). While these lexical slips and spelling mistakes are noticeable, they do not severely impede communication, allowing the reader to follow the intended data points.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing introductory clauses and coordinating conjunctions. There are, nevertheless, several errors in grammar and punctuation throughout the text. Examples include article omissions ('the the breakdown'), incorrect capitalization ('staten island', 'manhattan'), and minor tense inconsistencies. These errors persist alongside correct structures, but they rarely impede communication, allowing the reader to grasp the main quantitative points without significant difficulty.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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