Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-12

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 1st table data displays the shift in population of Newyork city between 1800 to 2000. The later data presents the diversity in population of five districts over the same period.

Overall, in 2000s all five districts collectively saw the highest raise in population compared to that of in 1800.

For Manhattan, it has seen the highest raise in % of total population in 1800. The lowest raise according to population was in 2000s although the no of people was more in 2000s compared to what it was before but in the % according to the total population was much lesser.

When it comes to the other 4 districts they have seen the highest raise in population according to % of total population as well as the no of people in 2000s as it reached upto 81% from 24%.

Although Manhattan faced decline in population in terms of % of total population the other districts faced growth in population within the next years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that Manhattan’s share fell while the other districts’ combined share rose, and you note that Manhattan’s population was lower in 2000 than in 1900. However, the overview is imprecise: the city’s population increased across the period, but the tables do not show that the largest rise occurred specifically “in 2000s.” The response also omits the total population figures and gives few exact comparisons. “The other 4 districts” is not supported as a separate group in the data; the table combines Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. Develop the key stages with accurate figures—for example, Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19%, while the other districts’ share rose from 24% to 81%—and make the overall trends clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to Manhattan and the other districts, and the final sentence attempts to compare their trends. However, progression is not consistently clear because several points repeat the same contrast without adding detail. The long Manhattan paragraph combines population totals and percentages in a way that makes the comparison difficult to follow, while “When it comes to the other 4 districts” does not clearly connect to the table’s combined category. Linking phrases such as “By contrast” and “Meanwhile” could help, but the main improvement is to organise the report around the overall population trend and then the contrasting changes in Manhattan and the other districts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant terms, including “population,” “percentage,” “decline” and “growth,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing table data. “Highest raise” is repeated and does not clearly express an increase, while “diversity in population” does not describe the figures shown. Phrases such as “according to population” and “raise in %” also make the comparisons unclear. Spelling and form issues such as “Newyork” and “upto” reduce accuracy. Use precise reporting language consistently, such as “increased,” “accounted for,” “share of the total,” and “combined population,” and avoid repeating the same vague wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentences, particularly with “although” and “when it comes to,” but control is uneven and the response relies heavily on basic sentence patterns. Errors in tense, articles, prepositions and sentence construction sometimes make relationships between figures hard to understand. For example, “between 1800 to 2000” uses an incorrect preposition pattern, and “the lowest raise according to population was in 2000s” is structurally unclear. The sentence beginning “although the no of people was more” also contains an incomplete comparison and awkward clause structure. Practise clear comparative forms such as “Manhattan’s population fell from X to Y, whereas its share declined from X% to Y%.” Check articles and prepositions when editing.

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