Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-13

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 two tables given which provides the information about the total populationof new york city and its fiven districts from 1800 to 2000. The five districts of New York which is mentioned in the table Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island.

The first table indicates that in in year of 1800 the population of New york including all five districts was around 80,000 and precisely it was seventy nine thousand two sixteen. However, in the year of 1900 the population increased to 3,437,202 (Three million four hundred thirty seven thousand and two hundred and two) which is far more than the popuation in 1800. Furthermore, the population number again increased to 8,009,185 (Eight million, nine thousand one hundred and eight five) in the year of 2000.

Comprisingly, New york has the greatest number in population in the year of 2000.

The second table describes the contribution of Manhattan district to total population of New york. The contribution to population was seventy six percent in the year of 1800 but on the other hand this trend goes in to decline as the the contribution becomes only nineteen percent in the year of 2000.

Meanwhile, the other four districts shows the trend in opposite direction. In the year of 1800 the contribution was only 24 percent but in the year of 2000 the number increased to 81 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in New York City’s population and the contrasting change in Manhattan’s and the other districts’ shares. The figures for 1800 and 2000 are mostly reported accurately, and the comparison between Manhattan’s 76% and 19% and the other districts’ 24% and 81% is relevant. However, the overview is weak: “New York has the greatest number in population in the year of 2000” mainly restates the obvious endpoint rather than summarising the key pattern. You also omit the important 1900-to-2000 reversal in Manhattan’s population: it fell from 1,850,093 to 1,538,096, while the other districts grew substantially. Include this comparison and clarify that the district percentages refer to the city total.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, understandable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on the city total, and paragraphs comparing Manhattan with the other districts. Linking expressions such as “However,” “Furthermore,” and “Meanwhile” help signal relationships between points. Nevertheless, progression is uneven, and the standalone sentence beginning “Comprisingly” interrupts the discussion without adding a useful overview. Some links are mechanical or confusing, particularly “but on the other hand this trend goes in to decline,” where the contrast is not clearly expressed. The two district groups would be easier to compare if discussed together across all three years, rather than focusing mainly on the endpoints. Use clearer paragraphing and references to connect the figures and trends.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “population,” “contribution,” “increased,” “decline,” and “opposite direction,” so the main information is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “Comprisingly,” “greatest number in population,” and “the contribution to population.” Repeatedly writing numbers out in words also makes the report less concise and introduces spelling or number-form errors, for example “eight five.” Aim for standard chart language such as “accounted for,” “share,” “rose,” and “fell,” and use figures consistently. Check spelling and collocations carefully, including “population” and “New York City,” to make the description more precise and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast introduced by “However” and a sentence beginning “Meanwhile.” The overall meaning can usually be followed, but errors in sentence structure and agreement are noticeable. For example, “There are two tables given which provides” has a plural subject with a singular verb, while “The five districts … which is mentioned” also has faulty agreement and an incomplete construction. Repetition in “in in year” and “as the the contribution” further reduces accuracy. Some sentences are awkwardly joined, and punctuation around the introductory material could be clearer. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles, and concise sentence patterns, while retaining a mix of simple and complex forms.

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