Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-14

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 INITIAL TABLE GIVES INFORMATION OF THE OVERALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN FIVE DISTRICTS OF NEW YORK CITY FROM YEAR 1800 T0 2000. THE SECOND TABLE SHOWS THE PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IN MANHATTAN, WHILE THE LAST TABLE GIVES PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IN THE REMAINING FOUR DISTRICTS (BROOKLYN, BRONX, QUEENS, STATEN ISLAND) ACROSS THE SAME PERIOD.

OVERALL, IT IS EVIDENT THAT ACROSS ALL FIVE DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK, THE LATTER YEAR HAD THE LARGEST POPULATION AND THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE AMOUNG THE FOUR OTHER DISTRICTS ASIDES FROM MANHATTAN.

AMONG ALL FIVE DISTRICTS IN NEW YORK CITY, YEAR 1800 HAD THE LOWEST POPULATION OF 79,216. THIS IS FOLLOWED BY THE YEAR 1900 WITH 3,437,202 AND THE HIGHEST WITH 8,009,185 NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE YEAR 2000.

IN MAHATTAN, YEAR 2000 HAD THE LEAST PERCENTAGE OF 19% WITH THE POPULATION OF 1,538,096 AND THE MOST PERCENTAGE OF 54% IN YEAR 1900. AMONG THE OTHER FOUR DISTRICTS, YEAR 2000 HAD THE LARGEST POPULATION OF 6,471,089 AT 81% AND THE LOWEST IN YEAR 1800 WITH 24%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report several key figures accurately, including the city’s totals in 1800, 1900 and 2000, and the 2000 population and share for the other four districts. However, the overview is incomplete and partly inaccurate: 2000 had the largest city population, but it did not have the highest percentage among the other districts—that share rose to 81%, compared with 24% in 1800 and 46% in 1900, so this is accurate only if you mean the 2000 figure. More importantly, you omit Manhattan’s 1800 figures and the fact that its population peaked in 1900 before falling by 2000. You also describe the tables as showing percentages, although they give population figures as well. Select and compare the main changes more fully to make the summary clearer and more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs reporting figures. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and phrases such as “Among all five districts” signal a change of focus. However, the progression is limited because the final paragraphs mostly list years and values rather than developing comparisons between the tables. The overview’s reference to the “highest percentage” is also unclear, and “This is followed by” does not explain what relationship is being followed. Group the information around the contrasting trends—Manhattan’s share declining and the other districts’ share increasing—and use clear links to show how the figures compare.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “overall,” “population,” “percentage,” “largest” and “lowest,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or awkward, which makes the report less precise. For example, “information of the overall number” is an unnatural collocation, while “the latter year” is vague when you mean 2000. “Among the other four districts” is clearer than “the four other districts asides from Manhattan,” and “amount” is not the right word in “highest percentage amoung.” Check spelling as well: “Manhattan” and “among” are misspelled. More precise reporting verbs and comparison phrases would help you describe the trends without repeating “had.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple sentences and more developed structures, including “while the last table gives…” and “In Manhattan, year 2000 had…,” and the main figures remain understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, but they rarely prevent the reader from following your meaning. For example, “the highest with 8,009,185 number of people” is an incomplete comparison structure; write “the highest population, at 8,009,185.” In “the most percentage of 54%,” the construction is also faulty; use “the highest share, at 54%.” The opening sentence would be more natural as “The first table gives information about the total population…” Practise forming complete, parallel comparisons and using articles and prepositions consistently.

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