Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-09

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 following table illustrates changes in the whole population of New York City in it's five different districts from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the population of New York City has increased by huge margin in each year but before 2000 most of the populace seems to lived in Manhattan. Similarly, after that time period over than a half residents are living in other districts.

In the year 1800, the total population of New York across the five districts was 79216 but it's number increased by 4 times in year 1900. Morever, there was more than half people living in Manhattan about 76 percentage of total populace. Since the year 1900 there was declined in the percentage of citizens living in Mnhattan and reach upto 19 percentage of total population in 2000.

In other districts like Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island there is an increasing in the number of residents each year and reach upto 81 percentage of total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall contrast: New York’s total population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. The figures of 79,216, 76%, 19% and 81% are consistent with the tables, and you make a relevant comparison between Manhattan and the other districts. This meets the task well, with some features reported more fully than others. However, the claim that the total population increased “by 4 times” by 1900 is inaccurate: it rose from 79,216 to 3,437,202, and then to 8,009,185 by 2000. The overview also says “in each year,” although only three years are shown, and the other districts’ population figures are not developed. Include the key totals and clarify the change in Manhattan’s actual population, which peaked in 1900 before falling.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the figures. The sequence from the overall population to Manhattan and then the other districts is generally logical, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Similarly” and “Since the year 1900” help signal relationships. However, progression is weakened by unclear references, especially “after that time period,” which does not specify whether it means after 1900 or after 2000. “Similarly” also does not clearly connect the two overview points. The final paragraph is very brief and does not explain how the other districts changed across all three dates. Use clearer time references and develop each comparison in a balanced way so the reader can follow the data without having to infer connections.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “total population,” “percentage,” “residents” and “increased.” However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which makes parts of the report less clear. For example, “increased by huge margin” needs a more precise collocation, while “more than half people” and “an increasing in the number” are not natural ways to express the comparisons. “Populace” is repeated and sounds less suitable here than straightforward terms such as “population” or “residents.” There are also spelling errors, including “Morever” and “Mnhattan.” Aim for precise, conventional data-reporting language and check spelling; the suggestions below offer useful alternatives.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “but” and a time clause beginning “Since the year 1900.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors in verb forms, articles and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “seems to lived” should be “seems to have lived” or “seemed to live,” and “there was declined” should be “there was a decline.” The sentence beginning “In the year 1800” also has an unclear comparison in “it's number increased by 4 times.” In addition, “in it's five different districts” uses the wrong possessive form. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build comparisons with complete, well-formed clauses.

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