Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-11

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 of total population of new yourk city and its five districts namely manhattan, brooklyn, bronx, queens, staten island over a period of 200 years from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the highest number of population in new yourk city was in 2000.It is also noticeable that at that time among these five districts the lowest percentage of population was live in manhattan, while others four districts had much more higher than manhattan.

Initially, In manhattan 76% of population was live in 1800, while in other four districts had only 24%.Next 100 years the percentage of total population in manhattan had 54% and in 2000 it dramatically decreased to 19%.In contrast, remaining the four districts the percentage of total population increased to 46% and in 2000 it dramatically went up to 81%.

Regarding the overall new york city, in 1800 the total population of new york city was 79216.First 100 years the number of total population significantly rose, but in 2000 it was surge to [redacted phone].

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the broad trends accurately: New York City’s population grew substantially, Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19%, and the other districts’ combined share rose from 24% to 81%. The overview also highlights the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts. However, some key information is only partly reported. You give the total for 1800 and 2000 but omit the 1900 figure, and you do not mention that Manhattan’s population itself rose to a peak in 1900 before declining by 2000. The statement that Manhattan had the lowest percentage among the five districts is not a direct comparison supported by the table, which groups the other four together. Include the main population figures and clarify that the district data are combined.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs covering district shares and the city total. This makes the main comparisons reasonably easy to follow. You also use basic sequencing and contrast markers such as “Initially,” “Next 100 years,” and “In contrast.” However, some links are mechanical or awkward, and the final paragraph feels disconnected from the preceding discussion. For example, “Regarding the overall new york city” does not smoothly introduce the total-population figures, while “First 100 years” is an unclear transition. Organise the body around the two sets of data, and use clearer links such as “By 1900” and “Over the same period” to show how the figures relate.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “percentage,” “total population,” “decreased,” and “increased,” so the main trends are understandable. There are also attempts at stronger trend language, such as “significantly rose” and “dramatically decreased.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural: “highest number of population,” “much more higher,” and “it was surge” weaken precision. Spelling and capitalisation errors in “new yourk” and “manhattan” also detract from control. Aim for standard data-reporting phrases and check spelling of place names. A more precise vocabulary range would help you describe changes without relying repeatedly on “population” and “dramatically.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast structure beginning “while” and a sentence using “In contrast.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “76% of population was live” has an incorrect verb construction and is missing an article; “in other four districts had only 24%” lacks a clear subject; and “the percentage … had 54%” uses an unsuitable verb pattern. Sentence boundaries and spacing also need attention, as in “2000.It” and “24%.Next.” Practise forming accurate past-tense comparisons, such as “Manhattan accounted for 76%,” and ensure each clause has a clear subject and verb. More consistent control would make your varied sentence attempts clearer.

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

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