Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-12

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 table illustrates changes in the total population of New York city between 1800 and 2000. While the table demonstrate changes in the population of the five destricts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

Overall, the New York city population increased dramatically in 200 years through out the time period, whereas the Manhattan had the highest districts for the population and decreased constantly from 1800 to 2000. While the other districts(Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) population increased significantly through out the time period.

In 1800, the New York city population is 79,216, whereas the Manhattan population incresed steadily to 60,515 accounting the percentage 76%. Wile the other districts Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island decreased steadily and accounting the 24%.

By the 1900, the New York city's population risen sharply to 3,437,202. whereas the Manhattan districts population rose significantly to 1,850,093 accounting the percentage 54%. While the other districts population increased steadily to 1,587,109 and the growth have 46%.

In 2000, the New York city population rose dramatically to 8,009,185, whereas the Manhattan district population decreased constantly to 1,538,096 and its share fell dramatically 19%. While the other districts(Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) population increased steadily to 6,471,089 and the share rose dramatically 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main changes and include the key figures for all three years. The overview correctly identifies the sharp rise in the city’s total population and the shift in population share away from Manhattan towards the other districts. Most figures and percentages are accurate. However, some descriptions are unclear or contradict the data: in 1800, Manhattan did not “increase steadily” to 60,515, and the other districts did not “decrease steadily”; these are figures for that year, not trends. The overview also says Manhattan “decreased constantly” across the period, although its population first rose substantially by 1900 and then fell. Clarify this two-stage pattern and distinguish population totals from shares to make the report more fully precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the three years. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is weakened by repeating the same year-by-year pattern and by frequent use of “whereas” and sentence-initial “While,” sometimes creating incomplete or awkward links. For example, “While the table demonstrate…” is not a complete sentence, and “By the 1900… Whereas…” interrupts the flow. Grouping the figures into a clearer comparison—Manhattan versus the other districts, alongside the city total—would reduce repetition. Use linking words only where the relationship is clear, and make sure each paragraph develops a complete comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “increased dramatically,” “rose sharply,” “accounting,” and “share,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, the range is repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “increased,” “rose,” and “steadily,” and some choices do not match the data relationship: “decreased steadily” is used for the other districts in 1800, while “accounting the percentage” is an unnatural phrase. There are also noticeable spelling errors, such as “destricts,” “incresed,” and “Wile,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise terms such as “stood at” for a single-year figure and “accounted for” when reporting a proportion. Vary trend language only when it accurately describes change over time.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons with “whereas” and clauses describing population shares. However, errors in sentence construction and verb forms are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward or incomplete. For example, “While the table demonstrate…” lacks a main clause and has subject–verb disagreement; “the New York city population is 79,216” shifts into the present tense; and “the New York city's population risen sharply” is missing an auxiliary verb. Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention, as in “By the 1900” and the run-on-like sequence “3,437,202. whereas…”. Use past tense consistently for the historical data, check agreement and auxiliary verbs, and ensure each sentence has a complete main clause.

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.