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 two table charts provides informtion about the population changes in New York City from 1800 to 2000.While the first table provides the overall population changes in the city, the other two tables provides more knowledge about those changes in the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island).
Overall, the population seemed significantly increase every century across all five districts in New York City.However, when comparing the growth of population of Manhattan with the other districts, it seems that Manhattan's population growth's rate declines; whereas the other districts' growth rate increases.
During 1800, it shows that Manhattan housed 76% of the population of New York. However, that percentage didn't keep up as time passed. With every century passing, it is obseved that the the growth rate of the population is decreasing till it reashed 19% by the year 2000.
On the other hand, the Other districts starting at 24% of the population of New York in 1800 witnessed an increase in the growth rate of the population's percentage. By the year 2000, about 81% of New York's population were found in the other districts rather than Manhattan.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the broad contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, and your overview correctly notes that Manhattan’s share fell while the other districts’ share rose. The percentages you give for 1800 and 2000 are accurate. However, the response only partly reports the tables: it omits the total city population figures and the actual district population counts, including the fact that Manhattan’s population rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 by 2000. Saying population increased “every century across all five districts” is also not supported by the supplied combined figures, which show a decline in Manhattan after 1900. Develop the comparison with key figures and describe the overall city’s substantial growth more precisely.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs contrasting Manhattan with the other districts. Connectors such as “Overall” and “On the other hand” help signal the main relationship. However, progression is limited because the final two paragraphs repeat the same percentage trend rather than adding distinct comparisons or data. Some linking is mechanical, and the contrast introduced with “However” in the Manhattan paragraph does not lead to a clear comparison of population counts. Improve cohesion by grouping the total-population trend and the district-share changes, then using accurate references and transitions to connect those points. This would make the organisation more purposeful and reduce repetition.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “overall population,” “percentage,” “population growth,” and “districts,” so the topic remains understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward, such as “provides more knowledge about those changes,” “growth rate of the population’s percentage,” and “housed 76%.” These expressions make the data description less precise; the tables report population totals and shares, not a growth rate for the percentage. Spelling errors such as “informtion,” “obseved,” and “reashed” are also noticeable. Aim for concise, conventional reporting language and check spelling carefully so that vocabulary supports clear comparisons.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a contrast clause beginning “While” and a sentence using “whereas.” However, errors are frequent, and some structures are difficult to follow. For example, “The two table charts provides” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “the other two tables provides” repeats it. The sentence “Overall, the population seemed significantly increase” has an incorrect verb pattern, and “Manhattan’s population growth’s rate declines” uses an unclear possessive construction. There are also punctuation and spacing problems, such as missing spaces after full stops and an unnecessary comma splice-like pause in the overview. Practise accurate agreement, verb patterns, and sentence boundaries before adding more complex structures.
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