Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-08

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 three tables give information about the total population of New York City and changes of popultaion of five individual cities in year 1800, 1900 and 2000.

Overall, the total population of New York city increased over the period, where the most noteworthy increase was noticed between 1900 and 2000. Moreover, the population of all five individual districts increased over the period with an exception of significant decrease of the Manhattan population in 2000. Manhattan was accounted for the highest percentage of total population in 1800 and 1900, whereas in 2000 the percentage dropped dramatically,

In 1800, the total population of New York City was 79,216, among them 76% of people (60,515) were from Manhattan and the remaianing 24% of people ( 18,701) were from Brooklyn, Brons, Queens and Staten Island. In 1900, the total population of New York increased to 3,437,202 among them 54% were from Manhattan. During the time, Manhattan population decreased and the other districts's population increased sign

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and the changing share of Manhattan, and the figures you give for 1800 and 1900 match the tables. However, the report is only partially complete: it stops mid-sentence at “increased sign…” and gives no account of the 2000 total or the other districts’ 2000 population and share. The overview also says that all five districts increased, but the tables combine the four outer districts, so this claim is not directly supported by the data provided. Develop the key comparison fully: Manhattan’s population fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000, while the other districts together rose to 6,471,089 and 81% of the city total.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and a paragraph beginning to report the figures chronologically. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Moreover” and “In 1800” help signal the stages of the report. However, progression is weakened because the final paragraph ends abruptly at “increased sign…”, leaving the comparison unfinished and the 2000 data unreported. The overview sentence about Manhattan’s share also ends with a comma rather than a completed thought. Use separate, complete paragraphs for the overview and the main comparisons, and ensure each paragraph develops one clear point. Cohesive links should connect complete comparisons rather than introduce information that is left unfinished.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant reporting vocabulary, including “total population,” “percentage,” “increased” and “decreased,” and “most noteworthy” shows an attempt to vary your wording. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation and spelling problems reduce precision: “changes of popultaion,” “individual cities” for districts, “remaianing,” and “Brons.” “Manhattan was accounted for the highest percentage” is also an unnatural expression; a district can “account for” a share, or it can “have” the largest share. Aim for accurate, conventional language for describing data, such as “the population of the outer districts” and “Manhattan’s share of the city total.” Proofreading spelling and choosing precise terms will make the comparisons clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a relative clause in “the most noteworthy increase was noticed between 1900 and 2000” and a contrast with “whereas.” However, control is uneven, particularly in longer sentences. For example, “among them 76% of people … were from Manhattan” is an awkwardly constructed clause, and “the other districts’s population increased” has an incorrect possessive form. The overview sentence ending “dropped dramatically,” is also left without a completed continuation, while the final sentence is unfinished. Use complete sentences and check clause structure, possessives and punctuation. For instance, “Manhattan accounted for 76% of the total, while the other districts made up 24%” expresses the comparison more cleanly.

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