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 illustrates the change in the total population of whole New York City throughout three period of time 1800, 1900 and 2000.While, other two tables outline the change in the proportion of the population in 6 distinct districts over the time.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that the total population of the New York City experiences an upward trajactory while the population ofManhattan faced a decrease in the percentage of total proportion.Conversely,the ratio of the all the other districts had a noticeable increase over three centuaries.

In 1800, the total popution of the New York City was just about 79,216 .That became about 5x throughout next centuary and reached the figure of exactly 3,437,202.And the number of people of the all the districts of New York City became more than double in the year of 2000 and it became exactly 8,009,185.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall contrast: New York City’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. You also report the city totals accurately and compare the 1800 and 1900 figures. However, the response only partly covers the tables: it gives no population figures for Manhattan or the other districts, and does not explain that Manhattan’s population itself rose by 1900 before falling by 2000. The statement that the total “became more than double” by 2000 is vague and does not clearly compare it with 1900. The response is also 6 words below the required minimum. To develop the summary, include the key district figures and describe the contrasting changes more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview beginning “Overall,” and a paragraph with figures. This gives the reader a basic progression from the tables’ subject to the main trend and then supporting data. The contrast marker “Conversely” is also relevant. However, the final paragraph focuses only on the citywide totals, so the district information in the overview is not developed or connected to evidence. Some linking is mechanical, and punctuation spacing makes transitions less clear, as in “2000.While” and “proportion.Conversely.” Use separate, clearly organised body paragraphs or a more balanced final paragraph, and connect each overview point to the relevant figures. This would make the progression more complete and cohesion less dependent on a few linking words.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of task-related vocabulary, including “proportion,” “upward trajectory,” “decrease,” and “noticeable increase,” which helps express the main trends. However, several spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision: “trajactory,” “centuaries,” and “popution” are noticeable, while “6 distinct districts” is inaccurate because the tables cover five districts, grouped as Manhattan and the other four. Some phrases are also unnatural or repetitive, such as “the ratio of the all the other districts” and “the figure of exactly.” Choose standard collocations such as “share of the total population” and “reached 3,437,202.” Accurate spelling and more precise phrasing would make your vocabulary more effective for describing data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple statements and more complex structures, including “while” and “while … Conversely,” and the main meaning is generally understandable. However, attempts at longer sentences often contain errors. For example, “throughout three period of time” needs a plural noun and a more suitable preposition, while “the population of the New York City experiences” has an awkward article and tense choice for a historical report. There are also missing spaces after full stops and inconsistent sentence punctuation. The phrase “the number of people … became more than double” is grammatically awkward and unclear. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and sentence boundaries, and check articles, plurals, and agreement. More reliable control of these basics would support your attempts at complex sentences.

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