Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-13

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 illustrate changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000, while the second and third tables compare the population of the Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the same period.

Overall, New York City's population increased considerably over the 200-year period. However, the disturbution of the population among its five districts changed siginficantly over time.

In 1800, the total population of New York was 79,216. Over the following two centuries, the city experienced substantial population growth reach to 8,0009,185 in 2000 respectively, while Manhattan starts with 60,515 population with the percentage of 76% in firts year. Moreover, the population dropped to 19% in a percentage of total population and rise steadily in numbers of population was 1,538,096.

Reagarding the other districts, including Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, experienced also population growth. Although, all other-districts started with least population with 18,701 with 24% of the total population, while in 1900, they rose up to 1,587,109 with 46% and in 2000, they have a majority with all numbers of 6,471,089 with 81% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall trends: the city’s population grew greatly, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. You also include relevant figures for all three years, and the reported values for the districts match the tables. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate in presentation: “8,0009,185” misstates the 2000 total of 8,009,185, and the account of Manhattan’s population says it “rise steadily” even though it fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000. The overview would be stronger if it explicitly noted that Manhattan’s population peaked in 1900 before declining, while the other districts became the clear majority by 2000. Some comparisons are therefore less fully explained than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for Manhattan and the other districts. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within the detail paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow, particularly in the Manhattan sentence that combines the starting population, percentage change, and later population figure. Linking expressions such as “Moreover,” “Although,” and “while” are not always used to show the intended relationship, and the final paragraph’s long sentence makes the sequence of years less clear. Use one or two sentences per district group and present the figures consistently in chronological order, with clear references to population and share.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population growth,” “percentage of total population,” and “majority,” which helps communicate the main comparisons. There is also an attempt to vary wording with “increased considerably” and “substantial.” However, spelling errors such as “disturbution,” “siginficantly,” and “Reagarding” are noticeable, and several phrases are awkward or imprecise, including “reach to,” “starts with 60,515 population,” and “all numbers of 6,471,089.” These choices sometimes make the data harder to interpret. Aim for accurate collocations such as “reached,” “had a population of,” and “accounted for,” and check spelling carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “while” and a concession beginning “Although.” However, control is inconsistent, especially in longer sentences. For example, “the city experienced substantial population growth reach to” lacks a correctly formed verb pattern, while “the population dropped to 19% … and rise steadily” shifts tense and incorrectly links a percentage with a population count. The opening also needs subject–verb agreement: “The first table illustrate” should be “illustrates.” Some sentence boundaries and clause connections are unclear, particularly in the final paragraph. Build accuracy by using shorter sentences with a clear subject and verb, then check tense consistency and agreement.

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