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 below depicts 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.

Overall,the population of New York city increased over a period given.Whereas, shares of Manhattan District population were reduced in contrast to other districts ,where population showed a upward trend.

The population of New York City was 79,216 in 1800 century and it were increased to 3,437,202 and 8,009,185 in 1900 and 2000 century respectively.

In Second table, Manhattan District population was increased and their proportion was reduced.In 1800,their population was 60,515 comprising 76% of the total population.While in 1900 and 2000, it was slightly reduced from 1,850,093 and 1,538,096 constituting 54% and 19% of the total population of New York City.

In Third Table,Other Districts(Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) population also showed upward trend.In 1800 century,their population were 18,701 with shares of 24% of Total population.While in 19th and 20th century,its share rose from

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall contrast: New York City’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. The figures given for the city and Manhattan are accurate, and the response includes relevant comparisons across the three dates. However, the account of the other districts stops mid-sentence after “its share rose from,” so their 1900 and 2000 figures and the scale of the change are not reported. The overview is also brief, and the response does not fully summarise the tables. It contains 139 words, below the required 150, which contributes to the incomplete coverage. Complete the final comparison and state the key shift from Manhattan to the other districts clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an overview is followed by paragraphs on the city total, Manhattan, and the other districts. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is weakened by the abrupt ending in the final paragraph, which leaves the comparison unfinished. Linking words such as “Whereas” and “While” are used repeatedly and sometimes do not connect complete, well-formed ideas; for example, “While in 1900 and 2000…” is left as a fragment. Some references, including “their” for Manhattan and “its” for the other districts, are not consistently clear. Use complete sentences, connect the figures more smoothly, and finish with a concise comparison of the changing shares.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing tables, including “population,” “proportion,” “comprising,” “constituting,” and “upward trend.” These choices show an attempt to use task-appropriate language rather than relying only on basic terms. However, several expressions are awkward or imprecise, such as “in 1800 century,” “shares of Manhattan District population,” and “showed a upward trend.” Repetition of “population” and “share” also limits the range, while “slightly reduced” understates the substantial fall in Manhattan’s population between 1900 and 2000. Aim for more natural collocations and precise trend language, such as “Manhattan’s population declined” and “the other districts’ combined share increased.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some complex sentence patterns, including comparisons introduced by “Whereas” and “While,” and the main figures are generally understandable. However, errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Examples include “it were increased,” “population were 18,701,” and the sentence fragment “While in 1900 and 2000, it was slightly reduced…” The opening overview also joins clauses awkwardly: “Overall,the population… Whereas…” There are recurring problems with articles, agreement, tense, and sentence boundaries. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and punctuation. For example: “The city’s population rose from 79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000.”

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