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)

The table compare changes in the population of new york city as a whole from 1800 to 2000 dramatically increase over the period. In addition to Manhattan accounted for the majority of the percentage of the population in the earlier years where the other four district shown more dominant in 2000.

In 1800, New York has a very relatively small population of 79,216. Manhattan was far more densely populated 60,515 with the percentage of 76% total population. Other states like brooklyn, bronx etc has 24% of overall population.

In 1900, the New york population reached a total of 3,437,202 with 54% percentage in manhattan of 1,850,093 and other cities 46 percentage of total population.

In 2000, the total population of new york reached a total of 8,009,185 with manhattan covering only 19 percentage while remaining states covering the 81 percent that shows a substantial increase in residents.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report the three years and include the main population figures, and you identify the key shift: Manhattan’s share falls while the other districts’ combined share rises. However, the overview is brief and does not clearly summarise the overall growth from 79,216 to over 8 million alongside Manhattan’s changing role. Some details are imprecise: “other cities” should be the other districts, and the table gives their combined population, not separate figures for each district. The response is also three words below the required minimum. Add a fuller overview and explain the contrast between Manhattan’s population peaking in 1900 and declining by 2000, while the other districts grew substantially.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a generally sensible chronological order, moving from 1800 to 1900 and then 2000, so the reader can locate the figures. The opening also attempts to provide an overview before the details. However, the first sentence is difficult to follow because it combines the table’s subject and its trend without a clear grammatical structure, and the overview is not separated from the first detail paragraph. Repeated openings such as “In 1800,” “In 1900,” and “In 2000” make the progression somewhat mechanical. Use clear paragraphing—an overview followed by grouped details—and connect comparisons explicitly, for example by contrasting Manhattan’s decline after 1900 with growth elsewhere.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “population,” “percentage,” “total,” and “substantial increase,” and the meaning is generally recoverable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward for this task. “Other states” and “other cities” do not accurately name the table’s category, which is the combined population of the other districts. Phrases such as “with the percentage of 76% total population” and “covering the 81 percent” are also unnatural. Capitalise proper names consistently, including New York, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx. More precise terms such as “accounted for,” “share,” and “combined population” would make the comparisons clearer and more appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the year-by-year structure helps communicate the basic information. However, grammatical errors are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward or unclear. The opening, “The table compare changes … dramatically increase,” has subject–verb agreement and sentence-structure problems. Other examples include “Other states … has 24%” and “with 54% percentage in manhattan,” where agreement and sentence construction are faulty. Articles and prepositions are also inconsistent, as in “with the percentage of 76% total population.” Aim first for accurate, complete sentences with a clear subject and verb; then add controlled comparisons using structures such as “whereas” or “while.”

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