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 first table shows the combined population of the districts of New York over the period of 200 years. It shows that Manhattan is the district which contains 76% of the population of New York City meanwhile the rest of the districts combined add up to just 24% according to the data collected in the year 1800.

However, in the year 1900, a significant change was noted that the population of New York City had started to rise in the remaining 4 districts as well other than Manhattan. While the population was still high in Manhattan (54%), the other district's population combined also contributed to half of the population ( 46%) of New York City which is a shift indicating that people started relocating to the other districts in the year 1900.

A huge shift was seen in the data reported in the year 2000 as the percentange of the population of New York City in the district of Manhattan was reported to be only 24% of the total population as compared to the rest of the districts which held the majority of the population. The rest of the districts showed a combined population of 81% which indicates that in a period of 200 years, the population of the city has gradually shifted from Manhattan to different districts within New York City.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main change clearly: Manhattan’s share falls while the combined share of the other districts rises, and you compare all three years. However, a key figure is misreported: in 2000 Manhattan accounted for 19%, not 24%; 24% was the other districts’ share in 1800. The response also omits the overall population totals shown in the first table, so the dramatic growth of New York City itself is not summarised. The claim that residents “started relocating” is not established by the tables, which show population changes rather than people’s movements. These omissions and the inaccurate figure leave some important information incomplete or unclear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged chronologically, with separate paragraphs for 1800, 1900 and 2000, and linking expressions such as “However” and “A huge shift” help signal changes. The central comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is generally easy to follow. However, the opening paragraph does not provide a concise overview of the main trends, and the repeated year-by-year structure makes the progression somewhat mechanical. Some connections are also unclear: “meanwhile” joins contrasting information awkwardly, while “as well other than Manhattan” makes the relationship between the districts difficult to parse. A brief overview followed by grouped comparisons would create a clearer progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing change, including “significant change,” “combined population,” “majority,” and “shifted,” so the main ideas are understandable. However, the range is somewhat repetitive, particularly in repeated references to “population,” “districts,” and “shift.” Some choices are imprecise or unnatural: “the population … had started to rise in the remaining 4 districts” does not clearly describe the figures, and “data reported” is less natural than language such as “the figures show.” There is also a spelling error in “percentange.” Aim for more precise terms such as “share,” “proportion,” and “accounted for,” while checking spelling and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including subordinate clauses beginning “While” and “which indicates,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, some longer sentences are not controlled consistently. For example, “Manhattan is the district which contains 76% … meanwhile the rest …” joins clauses awkwardly, and “the population … had started to rise … as well other than Manhattan” has an unclear grammatical structure. In “the other district’s population,” the possessive form does not suit the intended plural districts. Punctuation around the parenthetical “( 46%)” is also uneven. Use shorter, clearly structured comparisons and check clause boundaries, plural forms and punctuation.

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