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)

Both table illustrate the population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third illustrate the population of five districts.

New York and all five district has a polulation of 79,216 in the year of 1800. In the year of 1900 it grows to massive number of 3,437,202. In the year of 2000 it again grows to a large number of 8,009,185. Manhattan has a population of 60,515 in the year of 1800 which was 76% of total. In the year 1900, it reaches to 1,850,093. It was 54% percent of total population. In the year of 2000, population falls to 19% of total with the number of 1,538,095.

Other districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, State land, they've a population of 18,701 in the year of 1800. In the year 1900, it grows upto 46% percent of total population with the number of 1,587,109. In the year of 2000, it becomes the 81% of total population with a great number of 6,471,089

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report the main figures for all three years and include the district shares, so the response is relevant and several comparisons can be understood. However, it mainly lists data rather than selecting and summarising the key trends. The most important overview is missing: the city’s population rose sharply overall, while Manhattan’s population share fell and the other districts’ share grew to become dominant. You give no overview statement, and the final figure for Manhattan is slightly inaccurate (1,538,095 rather than 1,538,096). The response therefore addresses the task only partially, with limited development of the main features. Add a concise overview and explain the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The information is presented in a broadly understandable order, moving from the city total to Manhattan and then the other districts. This gives the reader a basic structure, and the repeated year references help identify the figures being discussed. However, the response has no clear overview paragraph or strong progression from general trends to supporting details. Repeated openings such as “In the year of 1900” and “In the year of 2000” make the writing mechanical, while links between population totals and percentage shares are not always explicit. The final paragraph also combines several districts without explaining the overall comparison. Organise the response into an introduction, an overview, and detail paragraphs, using varied but clear links between the trends.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the basic subject and figures, including terms such as “population,” “total population,” and “districts.” However, the range is limited and several choices are repetitive or unsuitable for a formal data summary. Phrases such as “grows to massive number,” “a large number,” and “with a great number” are vague and evaluative rather than precise. There are also noticeable spelling or word-form errors, including “polulation” and “State land” for Staten Island, and “upto” should be written as two words. Use more precise trend language, such as “increased,” “declined,” “accounted for,” and “the remaining districts,” and check names and spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use mostly simple sentence patterns, and the reader can generally follow the figures. There are attempts to connect information within sentences, for example, “Manhattan has a population of 60,515 … which was 76% of total.” However, grammatical errors occur frequently and the range of structures is limited. Examples include “Both table illustrate” (plural agreement), “all five district has” (agreement and plural form), “it grows” when describing past data, and “it reaches to” (verb pattern). Articles and prepositions are also often missing or awkward, as in “in the year of 1800” and “54% percent of total population.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and basic agreement, articles, and sentence patterns before attempting longer constructions.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.