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)

There are three tables given. Each table shows the information about the change in population from the year 1800 to 2000. The first table represent data of the new york city population year-wise, second table shows the data about the population changed in Manhattan which is a district in new york city and the third table represents the data of other four district of new york city that is Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten island.

From the first table that represents the new york city population data we can see that in the year 1800 the population was 79,216 which increased to 3,437,202 in the year 1900. After 1900 the population increased to 8,009,185 in the year 2000 which almost double of population in the year 1900.

Second table represents the population data of the Manhattan district of the new york city. The shows the number of population and as percentage of total population. In the year 1800 the population was 60,515 which was 76% of total population that was 79,216. The number of population in Manhattan in the year 1900 increased to 1,850,093 which was 54% of total population that was 3,437,202. In the year 2000 the population in Manhattan decreased to 1,538,096 which was 19% of total population that was 8,009,185. As the years passed after the year 1800 the percentage of total population decreased in Manhattan.

The Third table represents the data of population and as percentage of total population of the four districts that is Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, State Island. In the year 1800 the population of the combined four districts were 18,701 was 24% of total population that was 79,216. In the year 1900 the population in four districts increased to 1,587,109 which was 46% of total population that was 9,437,202. The number of population of four districts increased to 6,471,089 which was 81% of total population that was 8,009,185. As the years passed after 1800 the population of four district increased.

In conclusion, After the year 1800 the population in four districts increased more than the Manhattan district.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report the main figures for all three tables and identify the broad contrast: Manhattan’s share falls while the other districts’ share rises. The overview in the conclusion is relevant, and the population figures for 1800 and 2000 are generally accurate. However, the response is largely a sequence of year-by-year details rather than a clear selection of the most important trends. The statement that the city’s population in 2000 was “almost double” the 1900 figure is inaccurate; it was more than twice as large. There is also a significant data error: the total population in 1900 is given as “9,437,202” in the discussion of the other districts, instead of 3,437,202. Make the overview more precise and check comparisons against the tables.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: it introduces the tables, discusses each in turn, and ends with a conclusion. This makes the information broadly easy to follow. However, progression is repetitive because each paragraph follows the same pattern of listing figures, and the conclusion repeats a point already made rather than synthesising the main changes. Linking phrases such as “After 1900” and “As the years passed” are used, but the latter is repeated and does not always express the comparison precisely. Some references are unclear, as in “The shows the number of population,” and the opening sentence’s description of the tables is lengthy. Grouping the key trends—overall growth, Manhattan’s decline after 1900, and the other districts’ rise—would create a clearer progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic vocabulary to communicate the subject, including “population,” “district,” “increased,” “decreased,” and “percentage.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or unnatural, such as “the data about the population changed” and “number of population.” The repeated use of “represents” and “increased” also makes the report sound formulaic. There are spelling and capitalisation problems in place names, including “new york city” and “State Island” (the table gives Staten Island). Aim for more precise reporting language and accurate names, while varying verbs to distinguish overall growth from a decline in one district. These improvements would make the comparisons clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the reader can generally understand the figures and trends. However, errors recur in sentence structure, agreement, articles, and punctuation. For example, “The first table represent” should be “The first table represents,” while “The shows the number of population” is incomplete. In “the population of the combined four districts were 18,701 was 24%,” the clauses are joined incorrectly and the subject–verb relationship is unclear. Several sentences also omit necessary words, as in “which almost double of population.” Capitalisation and comma use are inconsistent. Practise building accurate comparison sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and sentence boundaries before submitting.

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