Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 tables illustrate the changes in the total population of New York city and its districts from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, there was an increase in the total population of New York from the year 1800 to 2000. The people in Manhattan rose very sharply. Whereas in other districts, number of people grew moderately.

The population in New York City seen a major change in its people's number, as number grew from 79,216 in 1800 to 3,437,202 in 1900. This number become twice in, 2000, as the number rose to 8,009,185. The Manhattan district in 1800 contain the 76% of population of New York where number is 60,515 . while the other districts of New York are less populated , contain only 24% of the people an the number is only 18,701

The population see a moderate change in 1900 in all districts. The Manhattan population become thrice as they was in 1800 and contribute 54% in the total population of New York. In contrast, the districts also rose and population contribution increase from 24% to 46% in 1900. The number seen a dramatical change in 2000 as the Manhattan contribution in total population decrease to 19% and only 1,538,096 people remain in Manhattan district . On other hand , the population contribution of other district seen a sharp growth as number increase to 6,471,089 which is 81% of population of New York .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main time points and make relevant comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts. The figures for the city total and the 2000 district populations are accurate, and you identify the important shift in population share: Manhattan falls from 76% to 19%, while the other districts rise from 24% to 81%. However, the overview is partly unclear and includes a factual misstatement: Manhattan’s population did not rise very sharply overall; it increased to 1,850,093 by 1900, then declined to 1,538,096 by 2000. The claim that the other districts grew “moderately” also understates their substantial increase. Develop the overview around both the city’s growth and the changing distribution across districts, and describe the 1900-to-2000 trends precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs containing figures from different years. Time markers such as “in 1800,” “in 1900” and “in 2000,” along with “In contrast” and “On other hand,” help signal comparisons. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the final two paragraphs move between the city total, Manhattan and the other districts, making the comparisons harder to follow. Some linking phrases are also awkward or repetitive, and punctuation around them is inconsistent. Organise the details in a clearer sequence—for example, first describe the city’s overall growth, then compare Manhattan with the combined other districts across the three years—and use references such as “this figure” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “population,” “contribution,” “decrease” and “sharp growth,” so the reader can generally understand the comparisons. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which makes some statements unclear. For example, “The population in New York City seen a major change in its people’s number” is an unnatural way to describe the figures, and “the Manhattan population become thrice” does not clearly express the change. “Dramatical” is also not the correct form. Aim for precise, conventional reporting language and avoid repeating “number” and “population” where a clearer term such as “figure” or “share” would work.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “Whereas” and a comparison beginning “In contrast.” The main trends and most figures remain understandable, but errors in verb forms, sentence construction, articles and punctuation occur throughout. Examples include “The population … seen a major change,” “This number become twice,” and “the Manhattan district … contain the 76%.” The sentence beginning “Whereas in other districts” is also incomplete, and several clauses run together without clear punctuation. Practise accurate past-tense reporting forms, such as “rose,” “accounted for” and “declined,” and check that each sentence has a complete main clause. More reliable control of these patterns would make your comparisons easier to read.

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