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 table illustrate changes in the total population of New York city and the population distribution between Manhattan and the other four districts from 1800 to 2000.Overall the population of New York increased dramatically throughtout period. However ,Manhattan share of tpotal population declined considerably ,while the other four district accounted for an increasing large proportion of residents by 2000. In 1800 ,New York city had a total populationof just 79,216, of whom 60,515 lived Manhattan. This repersented 76% of the city population ,whereas the other foyr district contained only 18,701 people accounting for the remaing 24%. By 1900, the total population had risen sharply to approximately 3.44 million. Manhattan population increased significantly to 1,850,093,repersentimg 54% the total. Meanwhile the total population of Brooklyn , the Bronx and staten island reached 1,587,109 are 46% of all residents . In 2000, New York city population had grown further to just over 80 million Manhattan population has dropped total 19% and other districts has increased dramaticaly

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall trends: the city’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share increased. The figures for 1800 and 1900 are mostly reported accurately, and the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is relevant. However, the final stage is not adequately described: the city had 8,009,185 residents in 2000, not “just over 80 million,” and Manhattan’s population was 1,538,096, rather than only noting its 19% share. The other districts’ 2000 population, 6,471,089, is also omitted. In addition, the overview could state more clearly that Manhattan’s population itself peaked in 1900 before declining. Covering the final year accurately and fully would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable progression from an introduction and overview to figures for 1800, 1900 and 2000. Time markers such as “In 1800,” “By 1900” and “In 2000” help the reader follow the chronology, and “However” signals the contrast between the city’s growth and Manhattan’s declining share. Nevertheless, the final-year information is compressed into an incomplete sentence, so the comparison does not develop as clearly as it does for earlier years. Some linking is also awkward, particularly “Meanwhile the total population of Brooklyn, the Bronx and staten island reached…” because the sentence’s relationship to the preceding figures is not expressed smoothly. Use separate, balanced sentences for each period and connect the population totals with their shares.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of trend vocabulary, including “increased dramatically,” “declined considerably,” “risen sharply” and “grown further.” These choices help communicate the broad changes and are appropriate for a table summary. However, several spelling errors—such as “throughtout,” “repersented,” “remaing” and “dramaticaly”—make the writing less controlled. Some phrases are also imprecise or unnatural: “increasing large proportion” should be “increasingly large proportion,” while “Manhattan population has dropped total 19%” does not clearly distinguish population from percentage share. Aim for accurate collocations and use precise terms such as “accounted for” or “represented” when describing proportions. Proofreading spelling and word forms would improve clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex structures, including the opening sentence with “and” and the contrast introduced by “whereas.” The sentence describing the 1800 figures also shows an effort to combine a total with a relative clause. However, errors in agreement, articles, prepositions and sentence boundaries are evident: “The table illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, and “lived Manhattan” needs a preposition. The overview contains a run-on transition after “2000,” while the final sentence shifts between past and present forms (“had grown” and “has dropped”) without a clear reason. The 1900 sentence beginning “Meanwhile” also has a faulty construction around “reached … are 46%.” Use consistent past tense for the historical data and check each sentence for a complete, correctly linked clause.

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