Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-05

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 provides data on the changes of New York City's population from 1980 to 2000 over the 300 years, while the other two tables illustrate changes of the population of the five distric cities over the period of 300 years.

Overall, it the first and last table number of individuals grew rapidly, whereas in the second table percentage was declinded sharply.

To begin with, the first table population of New York City in 1800 were 79,216. In the next hundred years we saw a huge increase and population became 3,437,202. In the last hundred years it rocketed and reach at 8,009,185 in all five districts.

In other five districts percentage of total individuals increased. In 1800 population was 24%, but in next hundred years it rose and became 46%. In the last centurie it rose dramatically and reached at 81%.

Manhattan was only city in which percentage decreased. Initially, it was 76% in 1800, but in 1900 it declined and became 54%. In the last hundred years it stoped at 19%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: New York City’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share increased. The figures you give for the city total and the percentage shares match the tables. However, the overview is unclear in “the first and last table number of individuals grew rapidly,” and the opening incorrectly says the period begins in 1980 rather than 1800. More importantly, the response reports the other districts only as percentages, not their population totals, and does not mention that Manhattan’s population itself rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 by 2000. These omissions leave some relevant comparisons underdeveloped. State the key population and share changes more precisely in the overview and body.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the city total, the other districts, and Manhattan. Time markers such as “In the next hundred years” and “In the last hundred years” help the reader follow the chronology. However, the overview’s reference to the “first and last table” is confusing, and “whereas in the second table” does not clearly identify which population measure is being contrasted. The paragraph about the other districts also shifts between population and percentage, making the comparison less clear. Use explicit references such as “the city’s total population,” “Manhattan’s share,” and “the combined population of the other four districts,” and group related figures together to create a more direct progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of trend vocabulary, including “grew rapidly,” “huge increase,” “rocketed,” “declined sharply,” and “rose dramatically.” These choices make the broad direction of change clear, and the response generally uses relevant terms for describing data. However, several expressions are imprecise or unnatural for an academic report: “the first table population,” “percentage of total individuals,” and “it stopped at 19%.” There are also spelling and word-form errors, including “centurie” and “stoped.” Prefer neutral, precise language over repeated dramatic verbs, and use standard collocations such as “accounted for” or “the proportion of the total.” This would make the description more accurate and appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more developed sentence forms, and most of the intended comparisons can be understood. However, errors in sentence structure, agreement, tense, and articles are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward. For example, “Overall, it the first and last table number of individuals grew rapidly” lacks a clear grammatical structure, while “population ... were 79,216” has subject–verb disagreement. In “it rose and became 46%,” the pronoun reference is unclear, and “it stoped at 19%” uses an incorrect verb form for the past trend. Practise building complete sentences around a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and past-tense forms. More accurate complex sentences would improve control and readability.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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