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 table details the information of changes in the total population of New York and its five districts of the city ( Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten ) form 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the population of New York soared in these centuries. Whereas, the population of Manhattan waned while, other other districts surged.

In 1800, New York had 79,216 population. By 1900, it jumped to 3,437,202 and further to 8,009,185 in 2000.

In 1800, Manhattan had 60,515 population (76% of total population). By 1900, it had increased to 1,850,096 people (54% of total share). In 2000, population had decreased to 1,538,096.

In term of other districts, by 1800, it had 18,701 population (24% of total share). In 1900, population had grew to 1,587,109 (46% share). Following this, it had reached to 6,471,089 people by 2000 (81% of total population).

In conclusion, New York population had increased over the time period. The demographic influence soared in these two centuries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report the main overall trends and include relevant figures for the city, Manhattan and the other districts. The overview correctly notes that the city’s population rose sharply, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share grew. Most figures are accurate, although Manhattan’s 1900 population is given as 1,850,096 rather than 1,850,093. The response is also short of the required 150 words: 18 words copied from the task prompt are excluded from the count. This limits how fully you can develop comparisons; for example, you could explicitly compare the districts’ populations in 2000 and explain how the balance shifted over time. The final comment about “demographic influence” is unclear and does not add a specific data-based feature.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, paragraphs reporting the city and district figures, and a conclusion. This makes the information reasonably easy to follow. However, progression is somewhat mechanical, with repeated openings such as “In 1800” and “By 1900,” and the conclusion largely repeats the overview rather than drawing the comparisons together. Some linking is awkward or inaccurate, particularly “Whereas” at the start of a sentence and “Following this” before the 2000 figure. The phrase “other other districts” also interrupts the flow. Grouping the district figures into a clearer comparison of population and percentage share, and using more precise transitions, would make the organisation more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing change, including “soared,” “waned,” “increased,” and “decreased,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices or combinations are unnatural: “details the information of changes,” “had 79,216 population,” and “demographic influence” do not express the data clearly or idiomatically. Repetition of “population” and “total share” also reduces precision. Aim for standard chart language such as “the population stood at,” “accounted for,” and “rose to,” while choosing verbs that accurately describe the figures. More precise collocations would help you report the trends without relying on repeated or vague wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and more complex forms, including the contrast beginning “Whereas” and time clauses introduced by “By 1900.” However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences awkward. Examples include “Whereas, the population of Manhattan waned while, other other districts surged,” where punctuation and clause structure are faulty, and “In term of other districts,” which has an incorrect singular form. Verb forms are also problematic in “population had grew” and “it had reached to.” Articles and sentence construction need attention in “New York had 79,216 population.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build clear comparisons using complete, correctly punctuated clauses.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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