Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 information regarding total popluation of New York city and it five districts of the city in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island.

Overall, The population rose in New York city and other distracts. However,the most noticable change occure in 2000 in all distracts and in a city.

The first table shows the total amont of data of all five districts divided in years. n 1800, New york city and its all five district had least population just about 79,216. The number started to grew and in 1900 it reached at 3,437,202, and in 2000 the city had higher population than ither years by having 8,009,185 people in all five districts.

In contrast, Manhattan's population had dramatic deline in provided period. While it shared 76% of it proportion in 1800, and it started to decline on 1900 it reached at 54% and 19% in 2000. Other four districts population rose significantly in 2000 by being at 81% while in 1800 the proportion was just at 24% and it started to rose from 1900 and was 46%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main comparisons: the city’s total population rises substantially, Manhattan’s share falls, and the combined share of the other four districts grows. The figures you give for the city total and the percentage shares match the tables. However, the overview is imprecise: “the most noticeable change occur in 2000 in all districts” does not clearly identify the key contrast, and the tables show that Manhattan’s population itself rose from 1800 to 1900 before falling by 2000. Your account focuses mainly on percentages and gives little detail about this change in Manhattan’s actual population. A clearer overview and a more balanced selection of key figures would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for the city total and district comparisons. This gives the information an overall logical arrangement. Some links, however, are mechanical or unclear. “In contrast” introduces the Manhattan comparison, but the following sentence shifts between its share and population without making that distinction explicit. The overview’s “However” also does not clearly connect the two trends. Improve progression by grouping the city total first, then comparing Manhattan’s population and share with those of the other districts. Clearer referencing and more precise linking would make the relationships easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “proportion,” “decline,” and “rose significantly,” so the main trends can generally be understood. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “popluation,” “distracts,” “amont,” “deline,” and “ither.” Some phrases are also imprecise or unnatural, such as “total amont of data” and “started to grew.” These choices sometimes make the report harder to read and limit the precision of comparisons. Use standard trend language and check spelling carefully; for example, describe a population as increasing or decreasing, and distinguish a district’s population from its percentage share of the city total.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast clause beginning “While it shared 76%...” and a sentence describing the city’s growth across three years. However, some grammatical errors affect clarity. The opening has subject–verb disagreement (“The tables illustrates”), and “it five districts” needs a possessive form. There are also faulty verb forms and sentence construction in “the number started to grew” and “it started to decline on 1900 it reached at 54%.” Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, particularly after full stops and around transitions. Aim for complete, clearly separated sentences, and check agreement, verb forms and articles when revising.

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