Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-08

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 given tables illustrate the changed in number of population in different four distric of New York in between 1800 to 2000.

overall, it is clear that Manhattan experienced decrease throughout the period, In the contrast other four distric Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and staten island showed a upward trend.

In 1800, Manhattan distric was consideable one of the largest distric based on population, but after 1800 the percentage of citizen started down in 1900 there citizen percent was 54%, however in 1800 the percentage was 76%. There inhabitants were continously showed downward trend, at the end of 2000 there pubic percentage is only 19% which is the one third half of 76% that was in 1800.

In the contrst, the communities were continously rised in other four other sector in 1800 there public is 18,701 they rapidly increased and in 1900 these value rised and become 1,587,109, similarly in 2000 the total percantage of four distric is 81% that was increased from 24% in 1800.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast: Manhattan’s share of the city population fell, while the combined share of the other four districts rose. The percentages you report for 1800, 1900 and 2000 are accurate, and you include the combined population figures for the other districts in the first two years. However, the overview says Manhattan “experienced decrease throughout the period,” which is unclear because its population rose from 60,515 to 1,850,093 before falling to 1,538,096; it is the percentage, not the population, that declined throughout. The response also omits the city’s overall growth and Manhattan’s population figures. To develop the report further, distinguish population totals from population shares and select a few key figures to show both trends clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs comparing Manhattan with the other districts. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and phrases such as “In the contrast” signal a comparison. However, progression is weakened by unclear references, including “there citizen percent” and “these value,” which make it difficult to identify the figures being discussed. Some linking is also mechanical or repeated, particularly “In the contrast” and “similarly,” while the final paragraph combines population totals and percentages without a clear distinction. Organise the details in a consistent sequence—first population totals, then shares—and use precise references such as “Manhattan’s share” or “the combined population of the other districts.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “downward trend” and “increased,” so the main comparisons can be understood. However, the range and control are limited, with repeated or inaccurate expressions such as “public percentage,” “communities” and “other four sector.” Several spelling and word-form errors—“distric,” “continously,” “contrst” and “percantage”—also reduce clarity. Some choices are not appropriate for describing statistical data: “citizen” refers to people’s legal status, not their share of the population, and “rised” is not the correct form. Build a more precise set of chart-reporting terms, especially “population,” “share,” “accounted for,” “rose” and “declined,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “In the contrast” and a time sequence using “however.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some errors in sentence structure, verb forms, agreement and punctuation make parts difficult to follow. For example, “the given tables illustrate the changed” uses an incorrect noun form, while “the communities were continously rised” has an incorrect passive construction. In “there citizen percent was 54%,” the sentence pattern and reference are unclear. Capitalisation and comma use are also inconsistent, as in the overview beginning “overall” and the long sentence joined by “however.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and use shorter, complete sentences when presenting comparisons.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.