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)

This first illustrates the change in population of the New York city from 1800 to 2000, while the second and third table shows the change in population of five district of the city that are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx,Queens and state land over the same period of time.

Overall, for the five districts there is postive change in the population through out the time period but for the Manhattan district population decreased followed by an increasing trend.

In 1800, New York city total population were 79,216 including all five districts where 60,515 population was only of the Manhattan district which was the 76% of the total population the remaining 18,701 population were from four districts. Moreover, in 1900 there was a significant increase in the New York city population and it was 3,437,202 including all five districts while 1,850,093 was only of Manhattan district which was the 54% of the total.

In 2000 New york city population increased more than double from the previous year and reached to 8,009,185 in which only 1,538,096 was only belon to the manhattan district while rest of all population were from all four districts. In this year Manhattan district population decreased as compare to the previous year and was only 19% of the total.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main time points and report several key figures accurately, including the city totals and Manhattan’s population and share in 1800, 1900 and 2000. The overview also identifies the broad contrast: the city grew overall while Manhattan’s share fell. However, the overview is not fully precise: Manhattan’s population rose to a peak in 1900 and then declined, rather than simply decreasing followed by an increase. The response also gives little detail about the other districts beyond their combined population in 1800; the important shift from 24% to 81% of the city total is not reported. Develop this comparison and state clearly that the other four districts drove most of the later growth.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview and chronological paragraphs for 1800–1900 and 2000. This makes the main sequence easy to follow, and phrases such as “Moreover” and “In 2000” help signal progression. However, some linking is mechanical, and the repeated “only” constructions make the comparisons less smooth. The overview’s statement that Manhattan’s population decreased and then increased also conflicts with the figures that follow, interrupting the logical progression. References such as “the remaining population” could be made more explicit by naming the other four districts. Grouping the figures around the changing shares of Manhattan and the other districts would create a more connected comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “significant increase,” “population,” “total” and “decreased,” so the main information is generally understandable. However, the range is somewhat repetitive, especially through repeated use of “population,” “only” and “increased.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice problems, such as “postive,” “throught,” “state land” and “belon,” which reduce precision. Some phrases are awkward for formal data reporting, including “increased more than double” and “was only 19% of the total.” Aim for accurate district names and more varied, natural collocations such as “accounted for” or “rose to.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “while” and “where,” and the reader can usually understand the intended comparisons. However, errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction are frequent enough to make the writing less controlled. For example, “the second and third table shows” should use a plural subject and verb, while “New York city total population were” has incorrect agreement and word order. The phrase “which was the 76%” also uses an unnecessary article, and “In this year Manhattan district population decreased as compare” contains problems with article use and verb form. Practise building accurate comparison sentences, then check agreement and articles before submitting.

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