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 given three tables provides the information about the population of different districts of New York city from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the New York City poplulation was increased significantly from 1800 to 2000. However, in Manhattan districts population was rose steadily. In contrast, the percentage of total population were decrased. In remaining four districts counts of people and its total percentage both climb up rapidly.

In 1800, the population of New York City were 79,216, which were lowest number among all the years. The count of people increased to 3,437,202 in 1900. However, 8,009,185 number of population recorded in 2000, which were considered the highest number of all time. In Manhattan, 60,515 count of people and 76% were noticed in 1800 followed by 1,850,093 and 1,538,096 population and 54% and 19% of total population respectively in the year 1900 and 2000. Notabely, the highest number of population observed in the year 1900.

Moreover, the other four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) were least record of population were take place in 1800 which was 24%, whereas 46% and 81% total population were accounted in 1900 and 2000 respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall rise in New York City’s population and the contrasting shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts. The figures for the city total and Manhattan are largely accurate, and you note that Manhattan had its largest population in 1900. However, the overview says Manhattan’s population “rose steadily,” although it fell between 1900 and 2000. The final paragraph reports only the other districts’ percentages, not their population figures, so this comparison is less fully developed. Also clarify that the four districts’ combined population increased substantially, rather than describing them only as having the “least” population in 1800. A more precise overview and fuller comparison of both population and share would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs presenting the citywide and district data. This gives the reader a generally coherent route through the information. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In contrast,” and “Moreover” help signal relationships between points. However, the progression is weakened when the overview says Manhattan’s population rose steadily, then the body gives figures showing a decline after 1900. The final paragraph also shifts to percentages without clearly connecting them to the districts’ population growth. Some linking is mechanical, and references such as “which were lowest number” are not always clear. Grouping the figures into a direct comparison of Manhattan and the other districts would make the organisation more effective.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for describing tables and trends, including “population,” “percentage,” “increased,” and “accounted for.” These choices make the topic clear, but the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward. For example, “population was rose steadily” and “least record of population were take place” do not express the intended trends naturally; “population” is also repeated frequently. Spelling errors such as “poplulation,” “decrased,” and “Notabely” reduce accuracy. Aim for precise reporting phrases such as “the population stood at,” “accounted for,” and “the share declined,” while checking spelling and avoiding unnatural combinations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons introduced by “However” and “whereas,” and the main figures are usually understandable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction occur often enough to make some statements awkward. Examples include “The given three tables provides,” “the population was rose,” and “the population of New York City were 79,216”; these require subject–verb agreement and more accurate verb forms. The sentence beginning “In Manhattan” also combines several figures in a confusing structure. Use straightforward past-tense patterns consistently—for example, “Manhattan’s population stood at X in 1800 and peaked at Y in 1900”—then check agreement and punctuation in longer sentences.

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