Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-09
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 main table illustrates the changes in the total population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. The accompanying tables presents the distribution of population among the Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island districts of the New York City over the same period.
Overall, the tables shows that Manhattan district makes up the highest share to total population in 1800 and 1900. While other distrists had a minimal percentage if compared to Manhattan district. But in 2000, a significant change can be observed, that 81% of the total population of New York City started to settle in the other distircts than Manhattan one.
Regarding Manhattan, 76% of total population was settled there, in figures which was 60,515 making it most populated district. The figure descresed in 1900, making up 54% of the total population and also in 2000, only 19 % of total population was living in Manhattan.
The others districts represents a moderate percentage of total population in 1800 and also 1900, which were 24% and almost twice of it 46%. In the 2000, there was a noticabe change in the figures where in other districts population living were 81% of the total population and only 19% were settled in Manhattan.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
You identify the main contrast: Manhattan’s share falls from 76% to 19%, while the other districts’ combined share rises to 81% by 2000. The overview also correctly notes Manhattan’s dominance in the earlier years, and the figures you give for 1800 and the percentages in 1900 and 2000 match the tables. However, the description is less complete than it could be: it omits the city’s overall growth from 79,216 to 8,009,185 and does not report the district population figures for 1900 or 2000. Also, calling the other districts’ share “minimal” in 1900 is misleading at 46%. Include the total-population trend and make the comparison across all three years more precise.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs about Manhattan and the other districts. This helps the reader follow the broad comparison. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the 81% versus 19% contrast appears in both the overview and the final paragraph, while the total population table is introduced but not discussed further. Some linking is awkward or mechanical, particularly “While … But in 2000,” which creates a fragment-like transition, and “also 1900” does not clearly connect the comparison. Organise the details by year or by population trend, and use references such as “this share” or “by contrast” to connect ideas without repeating the same figures.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant vocabulary for describing tables, including “total population,” “distribution,” “percentage” and “decreased,” so the topic remains understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “a significant change can be observed.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “highest share to total population,” “settled there” and “a moderate percentage.” Spelling errors such as “distrists,” “distircts,” “descresed” and “noticabe” are noticeable and reduce precision. Aim for standard data-reporting expressions and check spelling carefully; for example, describe a district as “accounting for” a share of the population rather than saying people “settled” there.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast between the earlier pattern and 2000. Meaning is generally recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent in “the accompanying tables presents” and “the tables shows”; the plural subject requires “present” and “show.” The clause “76% of total population was settled there, in figures which was 60,515” has problems with article use and agreement, and “In the 2000” uses an unnecessary article. The sentence beginning “While other districts…” is not a complete sentence in this context. Review agreement, articles and sentence boundaries, then use a few controlled complex structures to express comparisons more accurately.
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