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 firts table presnts the changes in population in New York city from 1800 to 2000.

While the second and third table present the population in five different districts in New York city from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the total population in new york city by 1800 was 79216, but later after one century in 1900, it increased to 3,437,202, but in 2000, it even increase more and touched the figure of 8,009,185.

The second table presents the information about Manhattan. Where it shows the total population of Manhattan district over three centuries, such as we can see in 1800, the total population of manhattan was 60,515 which is 76% of total population, in 1900, it touched the figure of 1,850,093 which was 54% of total population and in 2000, it crossed the figure of 1,538,096, which is the 19% of total population.

The second paragraph presents the data about other four districs. In these four districts the Popultion was 18,701 by 1800, which is 24% of the total population, after one century it touched the figure of 1,850,093. Which is the 54% of total population and after one century it crossed the figure 6,471,089 which is the 81% of the total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in New York City’s population and report several relevant figures for Manhattan and the other districts. However, the account is mainly a sequence of numbers rather than a clear summary of the most important comparisons. The key shift—that Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19%, while the other districts’ share rose from 24% to 81%—is present but not highlighted as the central trend. There is also a significant data error: for the other districts in 1900, you give 1,850,093 and 54%, which are Manhattan’s figures; the correct values are 1,587,109 and 46%. Add a concise overview and check figures carefully to make the main features clearer and more accurate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence: an introduction, a summary of the city total, and separate discussion of Manhattan and the other districts. This gives the reader some organisation, and time markers such as “in 1800” and “in 1900” help show chronology. However, the progression is repetitive and sometimes difficult to follow. For example, “The second table presents…” is followed by “The second paragraph presents…” even though the latter discusses the other districts, and the repeated “touched the figure” does little to clarify comparisons. Some sentences are joined awkwardly, particularly the long sentence beginning “Overall,” and the fragment “Which is the 54%…”. Group the figures by trend and use clearer links between changes over time.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic vocabulary to communicate the subject, including “population,” “district,” “total population,” and “increased.” However, the range is limited, and several expressions are repeated or unnatural for describing statistical data. “Touched the figure” and “crossed the figure” are not suitable collocations here; “reached” or “stood at” would be more natural. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “firts,” “presnts,” “districs,” and “Popultion,” as well as inconsistent capitalisation of “New York City” and “Manhattan.” These do not make the response impossible to understand, but they reduce precision and polish. Use a wider set of accurate trend terms and proofread spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and subordinate clauses, but control is inconsistent, and many sentences rely on similar basic patterns. For instance, “Where it shows the total population…” is not a complete sentence, while “Which is the 54% of total population” is also a fragment. The sentence beginning “Overall, the total population…” contains a run-on structure, with several time points joined by commas and “but.” There are also errors in verb forms and agreement, such as “it even increase more,” and article use in “which is the 19%.” These problems sometimes make relationships between figures less clear. Build complete sentences, vary sentence structures, and check verb forms, articles, and punctuation.

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