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 first table indiactes the changes in the total population of New York city from 1800 to 2000. While, the second and third table descibes the changes in the population of the five districts of city over the same period.

As can be seen from the first table is that, population of New York was 79,216 in the year 1800 which, increased by almost 4 times till 10 decades. Till 2000 the population of New York was 8,009,185 which was almost 100 times of 1800.

According to the second and third table, it is understood that contribution of Manhattan was highest in the year 1800 and 1900. It was at 76% and 54% respectively. The other four districts share was almost third of Manhattan in 1800. While, it surged by 22% in next 10 decads. For the year 2000 the contribution of other four districts went up by 35%.

To conclude, manhattan was responsible for 76 and 54% growth for the year 1800 and 1900. While, other four districts contributed 81% in the population growth of New York in year 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad rise in New York’s population and the shift in the districts’ shares, including Manhattan’s decline from 76% to 19% and the other districts’ rise to 81%. However, the account is only partly accurate and the main features are not fully developed. The total population did not increase “almost 4 times” by 1900; it rose from 79,216 to 3,437,202, more than fortyfold. The claim that the other districts’ share was “almost third” of Manhattan’s in 1800 is also inaccurate: their populations were 18,701 and 60,515. In addition, Manhattan’s population fell between 1900 and 2000 even as the city total grew, an important contrast that is omitted. Distinguish population figures from percentage-point changes and report the key trends precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction, a paragraph on the city total, a paragraph comparing district shares, and a concluding statement. This gives the reader some organisation. However, progression is limited because the conclusion largely repeats the earlier percentages rather than synthesising the main contrast. Linking words such as “While” are sometimes used to begin fragments or loosely connected statements, and “According to the second and third table” does not clearly guide the reader through the comparisons. The relationship between the figures and the claims is also occasionally unclear. Group the information around the overall population trend and the contrasting district trends, then use clear links such as “By contrast” and “Meanwhile” to show how the data relate.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “total population,” “contribution,” “share,” and “surged,” and the reader can generally understand the topic. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing table data. “Contribution” and “responsible for … growth” suggest causes, whereas the tables show population shares, not what caused growth. “Went up by 35%” is also unclear: the other districts’ share rose from 46% to 81%, a 35-percentage-point increase. Spelling errors such as “indiactes,” “descibes,” and “decads” further reduce accuracy. Use precise terms such as “accounted for,” “share,” and “percentage points,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There are attempts to use more than simple sentences, for example “While, the second and third table…” and “which was almost 100 times of 1800,” but complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some relationships difficult to follow. Examples include “As can be seen from the first table is that,” which has an unnecessary “is,” and “the other four districts share was,” which needs a possessive form. Articles and number agreement are also inconsistent in “the second and third table descibes.” Punctuation after introductory “While” is misused, and several clauses are joined awkwardly. Practise accurate sentence patterns for comparisons, such as “The population, which stood at…, rose to…,” and check agreement, possessives, and clause boundaries.

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