Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-07

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 table chart illustrates the transformation in the toatal population of new york city in 1800 and 2000 and the second and third tables demonstrates the changes in the population of the five districts of the various island over the similar time span.

Overall, it is clearly evident that the new york city had lower figure of population, it experienced a dramatic increase throughout the period. In contrast, manhattan experienced fluntuation, while other districts had shown a considerable change and had accountd for the highest percentage of population.

To begin with, the population figure for new york city was 79,216 in 1800, which increased drastically in 1900 to reach 3,437,202. It then consistantly experienced an upward trend and reach to 8,009,185 by 2000.

In 1800, the manhattan district had a population of 60,515 with the percentage of 76%. Subsequently, it experienced a sharp growth to 1,850,093 with 54% in 1900 and then a slight decreased shown in the populaion of manhattan, it was accounted at 1,538,096 with 19% by end of the span.

The population rate was 18,701 in 1800 and stood at 24%, which it increased sharply to 1,87,109 by 1900, along with 46%. In contrast, the rate of population plummeted to 6,471,089 but the percentage was reach to 81% by 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages and make relevant comparisons, including the city’s rise from 79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000 and Manhattan’s changing share. The overview also identifies the broad contrast between Manhattan and the other districts. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the other districts’ population rose to 6,471,089 in 2000, but “plummeted” describes a fall, contradicting the figures. The 1900 figure is also written as “1,87,109” rather than 1,587,109. The overview’s claim that Manhattan “experienced fluctuation” is less precise than stating that its population peaked in 1900 and then declined. More accurate reporting and a clearer overview would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs reporting the city total and district figures. This gives the reader a generally coherent route through the information. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “To begin with,” “Subsequently,” and “In contrast” help signal stages and comparisons. However, some connections are mechanical or confusing. In the final paragraph, “In contrast” introduces a rise in the other districts’ population, while “plummeted” then conflicts with that increase. The reference “the population rate” is also unclear because the figures refer to population, followed by its percentage share. Grouping the city total and district comparisons more deliberately, and using clearer references, would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “dramatic increase,” “sharp growth,” “upward trend,” and “percentage,” and the meaning is usually recoverable. There are also attempts at less common wording, such as “transformation” and “plummeted.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “plummeted” wrongly suggests a decrease, “population rate” is not an appropriate label for the population total, and “had accountd for” does not express the intended share clearly. Spelling errors such as “toatal,” “fluntuation,” “consistantly,” and “populaion” also reduce precision. Aim for accurate, conventional collocations such as “population increased” and “accounted for 81%,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including relative clauses (“which increased drastically”) and contrast clauses (“while other districts…”). The main information is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent in “the second and third tables demonstrates,” and verb forms are faulty in “it then … reach” and “the percentage was reach.” There are also awkward or incomplete constructions, such as “a slight decreased shown in the population” and “which it increased sharply.” Articles and sentence boundaries need attention as well. Practise forming clear past-tense comparisons—for example, “The population then rose to…”—and check agreement and clause structure before submitting.

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