Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-06

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 first tabular data illustrates fluctuation occured in the total number of population of New York city from 1800 to 2000, while rest of the tables demonstrates the same observation among 5 different districts.

Overall, New York city have faced rapid growth in terms of population over the centuries, where in year 2000 has recorded highest population, while during 1800 it was the lowest. Manhattan solely contributes more than rest of the districts in terms of population regardless of final year.

During 1800, New York's population was 79,216 where 76% of people were living in Manhattan which is around 60,515 and rest of the public resided in other districts such as Brookly, Bronx, Queen and Staten Island. After 100 years, overall population grew roughly by 40 times and reached to 3,437,202 from which 54% of people lived in Manhattan only, which includes 1,850,093 individuals.

In final year of observation, statistics raised by 5 millions and reached to 8,009,185 where, unlike every time Manhattan contribues only 19% of the total population of New York city while rest of the public around 6,471,089 people lived in rest of the districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main time points and report the overall rise in New York City’s population, supported by accurate figures for 1800, 1900 and 2000. You also identify the key shift in Manhattan’s share, from 76% to 19%, and contrast it with the growth of the other districts. However, the overview contains a significant contradiction: “Manhattan solely contributes more than rest of the districts” is not true in 2000, when the other districts account for 81% of the total. The description of the other districts in 1800 is also less complete because their combined population and share are not stated. Make the overview precise and compare both groups across all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear four-part structure: introduction, overview and two paragraphs describing the data. The chronological progression from 1800 to 1900 and then 2000 is easy to follow, and phrases such as “After 100 years” and “In final year of observation” help signal movement between periods. Some connections are less clear or mechanical, however. “Manhattan solely contributes more than rest of the districts” conflicts with the later comparison, disrupting the overview’s logic, while “where” is used repeatedly to connect ideas that would be clearer as separate clauses. Improve cohesion by using direct comparisons and clear references, for example, “By 2000, the other four districts together accounted for…”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “overall population,” “percentage,” “reached” and “resided,” and the main information remains understandable. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing tables. “Fluctuation” suggests rises and falls, although the total population increases at each reported date; “observation” is also an awkward substitute for change or trend. There are spelling errors in district names, including “Brookly” and “Queen,” and “contribues” is misspelled. Phrases such as “rest of the public” and “statistics raised” are imprecise. Use standard names and collocations such as “the remaining districts,” “the population increased,” and “accounted for.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “while” and “where,” and the reader can generally understand the comparisons. Some grammatical errors nevertheless recur. For example, “New York city have faced” has incorrect subject–verb agreement and tense; “in year 2000 has recorded” lacks a clear grammatical subject and article; and “reached to 3,437,202” uses an unnecessary preposition. The sentence beginning “In final year of observation” also needs an article, and its comma after “where” interrupts the structure. Aim for controlled forms such as “New York City’s population rose” and “By 2000, it had reached…” Check agreement, articles and clause construction when editing.

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