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 first table illustrate the difference in total populatin over the years from 1800 to 2000 of New York City. The second and third tables also illustrate the difference of poplution in proportion of the five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) of the city over the same year.

Overall, the total population of New York City has increased over the years, but last 100 years it has increased drastically. Another noticable point is, in the early year most of the people lived in the Manhattan but over the years they had spread to other districts.

In the early year (1800) New York City only had 79216 people lived there. Which led to 8,009,185 in 2000 after 3,437,202 in 1900.

From the five district, in the early year most of the people lived in Manhattan which was about 76% whereas, other four districts only had 24% of the population. After 100 years Manhattan's poplutaion was slightly similar comparing with the other four districts total. But in 2000 population number decreased in Manhattan which led to 19% and on the other hand the other four districts population increased dramatically and led to 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main trends accurately: New York City’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell as the other districts gained population. The figures you include—79,216 in 1800, 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 2000, as well as the 76% to 19% shift for Manhattan—match the tables. Your overview is relevant, and the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is a useful feature. To make the report more complete, distinguish population totals from percentages more consistently: Manhattan’s actual population increased by 1900 before declining by 2000, rather than simply becoming “slightly similar” to the other districts. The other districts’ combined population also rose in absolute terms. These details would extend the accurate summary already present.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs of supporting details. The progression from the citywide figures to the district comparison is logical, and linking phrases such as “Overall,” “After 100 years” and “on the other hand” help show relationships. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “Which led to 8,009,185” is a sentence fragment, and “After 100 years Manhattan’s population was slightly similar comparing with the other four districts total” does not clearly explain whether you mean population totals or shares. Use complete sentences and make comparisons explicit. Grouping the city totals together and then comparing district figures in a consistent order would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main trends, with useful terms such as “total population,” “proportion,” “decreased” and “increased dramatically.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or repetitive. “Difference” is used where “change” or “trend” would be more natural, while “in proportion of” and “slightly similar comparing with” are awkward. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “populatin,” “poplution,” “noticable” and “poplutaion.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding the overall message, but they reduce precision and fluency. Aim for accurate, task-specific expressions such as “accounted for” when describing percentages and “the combined population” for the other districts.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the overall meaning is generally recoverable. However, errors occur often enough to make some sentences awkward or incomplete. “The first table illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, and “In the early year (1800) New York City only had 79216 people lived there” combines incompatible structures. “Which led to 8,009,185 in 2000” is a fragment, while “After 100 years Manhattan’s population was slightly similar comparing with…” has an unclear grammatical construction. Work on complete sentence boundaries, agreement, and clause structure. For example, write “New York City had a population of 79,216 in 1800, rising to 3,437,202 by 1900.” More accurate control of these patterns would make your comparisons clearer.

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