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 given tabels illustrate changes held in total population of Amarica's capital and also population of five districts (Manhattan,Brooklyn,Bronx,Queens and Staten Island) of New York in given period of three centuries.

The first tabel shows the change in total population of New York.In 1800,it can be seen the population of city was just abit more than 79 thousands.However,there was a rapid growth in population in whole century which jumped at 3,437,202 in 1900.But it did not stop increasing and it reached at 8 million people in 2000,who were living in capital of Amarica.

The second and third tabels shows the growth of population in five different districts of New York .Mainly it can be seen that district Manhattan carries a huge number of population.In 1800,a massive population can be seen which was 76% of the overall population of capital.While,in next century it was more than half of total population and in next 10 decades it was just two in ten of the total population of New York.However,the other 4 districts carry same size of population.In 1800,the population was almost a quarter of total population whhich was around19 thousands.While in next century it climbed nearly half of total population.Furthermore,in 2000,it reached its all the time high which was abit over than four in ten(81%).

Overall,it can be seen clearly that there was not satbility in the total population of New York in given period of three centuries.There was a dramatic growth in the population of Manhattan which is district of Amarica's capital.While there was a massive inncrease in last 10 decades in other four districts of New York.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main population changes and include relevant figures for all three years. The overview identifies growth in the city and the changing balance between Manhattan and the other districts. Your figures for Manhattan’s shares (76%, 54%, and 19%) and the other districts’ combined share (24%, 46%, and 81%) are accurate. However, some comparisons are unclear or misinterpreted: “a dramatic growth in the population of Manhattan” overlooks that its population fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000, even as its share declined. The phrase “other 4 districts carry same size of population” is also inaccurate; the table gives their combined population, not equal populations for each district. Clarifying these points and developing the overview more precisely would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on the city total, a paragraph comparing Manhattan with the other districts, and a concluding overview. This gives the information a generally logical order, and linking expressions such as “However,” “Furthermore,” and “Overall” help signal relationships. The progression is not always smooth, though. The final overview repeats the idea of population growth but does not clearly distinguish the city’s total increase from Manhattan’s decline after 1900. Some transitions, such as “While” beginning standalone sentences, create incomplete or awkward links, and “the other 4 districts” is not clearly tied to their combined figures. More precise comparisons and clearer references would make the cohesion more flexible and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “rapid growth,” “overall population,” “climbed,” and “dramatic growth.” However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “changes held in” is not a natural way to describe what the tables show, while “carries a huge number of population” and “reached its all the time high” are awkward collocations. “Four in ten (81%)” is also an incorrect expression of the percentage: 81% is roughly eight in ten. Spelling errors such as “tabels,” “Amarica,” and “inncrease” are noticeable. Aim for precise data-reporting phrases and check spelling and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including clauses introduced by “which,” “while,” and “however.” Some sentence patterns communicate the main information, but errors occur frequently enough to make parts of the report awkward or unclear. Examples include “The second and third tabels shows,” where the plural subject requires a plural verb, and “it reached at 8 million,” where the verb pattern is incorrect. Several sentences beginning “While” are fragments rather than complete sentences, and punctuation spacing is inconsistent, as in “New York.In 1800.” Articles and sentence construction also need attention in phrases such as “population of city.” Practise forming complete comparisons and checking subject–verb agreement, verb patterns, and sentence boundaries.

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