Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-30
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 given table illustrates how the number of population increased in the time span of two centuries in New York City. The other table also compares the changes in number of population of the five district of this city over the same time.
Overall, it can be said that the number of population increased drastically between the year of 1800 and 2000. In 1800, majority of the people used to live in the Manhattan city. But over the time the number of population increased in the other areas (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) also.
The total population of New York City was 79216 in 1800 which was significantly less than the total number in 2000 which was [redacted phone].
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You identify the broadest trend accurately: New York City’s population rose substantially, and Manhattan’s share fell as the other districts grew in importance. The figures you give for the city in 1800 and 2000 are also correct. However, the response only partially covers the tables: it omits the 1900 figures and the key comparison that Manhattan’s population peaked in 1900 before declining by 2000, while the other districts continued to grow. The overview is therefore limited, and the district data are not reported in enough detail. The response is also 32 words below the required minimum, leaving little space to select and explain the main features. Include the missing stage and at least one relevant comparison.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a final paragraph with a population figure. The sequence from the general trend to a specific total is understandable, and phrases such as “Overall” and “But over the time” signal relationships between ideas. However, the final paragraph gives only one comparison and does not develop the district information introduced earlier, so progression is limited. The repeated use of “population” and the short, underdeveloped body also make the response feel incomplete. Build a clearer progression by grouping the city-wide figures together, then comparing Manhattan with the other districts across the three years. Use references such as “this share” or “the remaining districts” to connect details without repeating the same wording.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use some relevant vocabulary for describing change, including “increased drastically,” “significantly less,” and “compares the changes.” These choices make the general trend clear. However, the range is limited, and several phrases are awkward or imprecise, such as “number of population,” “five district,” and “Manhattan city.” The repeated use of “number of population” also reduces variety. More precise terms would help you describe the data and comparisons naturally: for example, use “population” or “population total,” “districts,” and “Manhattan.” You could also use verbs such as “rose,” “declined,” and “accounted for” to report the contrasting trends shown in the tables.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
Your sentences communicate the main points, and you attempt a complex structure in “which was significantly less than the total number in 2000.” However, most sentences follow a simple pattern, so the range of structures is limited. There are also recurring grammatical problems: “the five district” needs a plural noun, and “between the year of 1800 and 2000” has an awkward singular construction and inconsistent number. In “the number of population increased,” the sentence structure is also not well controlled. Aim for accurate comparisons such as “The population rose from … in 1800 to … in 2000,” and practise plural forms, articles, and prepositions. Greater control of these patterns would make the response smoother and more precise.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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