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 tables illustrates the changes in the total population of New York City and thier five districts of the city from 1800 to 2000.

According to the first table, the population of New york city (all five districts) had rose around five times,from 1800 to 1900 period, Moreover, in the next centuary the poplation had doubled.

In one hand, the population of Manhattan district incresed gradually over 1800 to 1900, but it fall down in the next century, however, the percentage of total poplution contribution to the city had decresed.

On the other hand, the other district's percentage of population contribution to the city had increased gradually, in addition, the population of the districts also went up.

In conlusion, the poplution of New york city had increased over two centuries, however, the contribution by the districts had changed, intially the highest contribution was from Manhattan alone, later it decreased, because of increased population in other districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad trends: New York City’s population grew, Manhattan’s share declined, and the other districts became more dominant. However, several key details are inaccurate or too vague. The city’s population rose from 79,216 to 3,437,202 between 1800 and 1900—far more than five times—and then increased to 8,009,185, which was more than double. Manhattan’s population did not increase gradually: it rose sharply to 1,850,093 by 1900 before falling to 1,538,096. The other districts’ population and share also rose substantially, but no figures are given. The response is three words below the 150-word minimum. Add accurate comparisons and supporting figures to develop the summary more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate comments on the city and district trends, and a concluding summary. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is weakened by repetitive and sometimes awkward linking, including “Moreover,” “In one hand,” and “On the other hand,” while the final conclusion largely repeats earlier points. Some relationships are unclear: “because of increased population in other districts” does not precisely explain the change in Manhattan’s share. Grouping the main comparisons more deliberately—for example, overall growth first, then the contrasting district trends—and using fewer, more accurate transitions would make the organisation clearer and cohesion less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing tables and trends, including “population,” “percentage,” “increased,” “decreased,” and “contribution.” This is enough to communicate the general subject, but the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems reduce precision. For example, “population contribution to the city” is an awkward way to describe a district’s share of the total, and “fall down” is not a natural expression for a declining population. Misspellings such as “thier,” “centuary,” and “poplution” are noticeable. Build a more precise set of trend expressions, such as “accounted for,” “rose sharply,” and “declined,” and check spelling carefully so the reader can focus on the comparisons.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect ideas in longer sentences, using contrast and time clauses, as in “the population of Manhattan district incresed gradually over 1800 to 1900, but it fall down in the next century.” However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward. The opening has a subject–verb agreement error (“The tables illustrates”), and “had rose” uses an incorrect past participle. Tense choices are also inconsistent, as in “it fall down,” while the final sentence joins several ideas with commas rather than clearly separating them. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build complex sentences around one clear comparison at a time; this will improve control without sacrificing range.

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