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 presents the population changing in New york city between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, the first table illustrates the changes in the new york city and other two tables shows the changes in (Manhattan, Brooklyin,Bronx, Queens, Staten Island). First table shows only the number of population but the other two table shows both number and percentage of population.

At first, the population of New York was 79,216 in 1800. But in the next two centuries it experienced a upward trend significantly growth, the population was 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 2000.

And then, the number of population in Manhattan, was 60,515 and in avareg it's 76% in 1800. Then it experienced a flactuation and the number is 1,538,096, in avareg 19% in 2000.,Altthough, the other four districts of New York (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten IslandK) had 18,701 in number and 24% in avareg population in 1800, it had a dramatically increased to 6,471,089 and 81% in avareg in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the broad pattern of strong growth in New York City’s total population and the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other four districts. The figures you give for 1800 and 2000 are accurate, and the comparison between Manhattan’s falling share and the other districts’ rising share is relevant. However, the account is incomplete: it omits the 1900 district figures and percentages, and it does not clearly report that Manhattan’s population itself peaked in 1900 before declining by 2000. The overview mainly describes what the tables contain rather than summarising their most important trends. Develop that overview and include the key middle-period comparison to make the coverage more balanced.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about the total population and then the districts. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is weakened by an overview that repeats the table descriptions instead of previewing the main trends, and the final paragraph combines several comparisons in a long, difficult-to-follow sentence. Connect the years more systematically and use separate sentences or paragraphs for Manhattan and the other districts. Some linking words, such as “And then” and “Altthough,” feel mechanical or do not clearly express the relationship between the data. Clearer sequencing would make the comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “trend,” and “increased,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “a upward trend significantly growth,” “in avareg,” and “experienced a flactuation.” These errors sometimes make the intended meaning less clear. Spelling is also inconsistent, including “Brooklyin,” “Altthough,” and “Staten IslandK,” while “number of population” is not a natural expression. Aim for precise phrases such as “population rose,” “accounted for 76%,” and “the population share declined,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast introduced by “Although,” and the reader can usually identify the figures being compared. However, control is uneven: the opening has subject–verb agreement errors (“The tables presents” and “other two tables shows”), and several sentences have faulty or incomplete structures. For example, “But in the next two centuries it experienced a upward trend significantly growth” does not form a clear grammatical sentence, while “Then it experienced a flactuation and the number is…” shifts tense and leaves the reference unclear. Punctuation also disrupts meaning in “2000.,Altthough.” Use consistent past tense, check agreement, and build comparisons in complete, clearly punctuated sentences.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.