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 first given table illustrates the total population in New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables below show the changes in population of different five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brookyln, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island) with over the same period of time.

Overall, the population were increased rapidly with over the time. The main population of New York Live in Manhattan district in 1800 and 1900 and the other were living in other districts. There were a huge difference in 2000.

To begin with, the population of New York in all five districts, in 1800 the population were 79,216 and it were about quadrupled in next 100 years. In 2000, the population were almost twice in the next 100 years.

Moreover, in 1800, 76% of citizens live in Manhattan as compared to other four districts with only 26%. Only 54% of residents live in Manhattan in next 100 years the other 46% of people were living in other four districts. In 2000, the population were declined to 19% living in Manhattan and the other 81% of individuals living in other four districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main changes and provide an overview: the city grew substantially, Manhattan’s share fell, and the other districts’ share rose. The figures for the total population in 1800 and the district percentages are mostly reported accurately. However, there are important inaccuracies and omissions. In 1800, the other districts accounted for 24%, not 26%; and the total population was about 43 times higher in 1900 than in 1800, not quadrupled. By 2000, the total had more than doubled from 1900, rather than being “almost twice” without a clear comparison. The overview also says Manhattan held the largest share in 1900, but does not note that its population actually fell by 2000. More precise comparisons would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. Sequencing the figures by time helps the reader follow the broad changes, and “Moreover” signals a shift from total population to district shares. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the total-population paragraph compresses two century-long comparisons into awkward sentences, while the final paragraph repeats “In 1800” and “In 2000” without clearly distinguishing population counts from percentages. Some linking is mechanical, and references such as “the other” are not always precise. Grouping the total figures together, then comparing Manhattan with the other districts across all three years, would create a clearer line of development.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “total population,” “districts,” “residents,” and “percentage,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which keeps the description from being consistently precise. For example, “the population were increased” is an awkward collocation, “the main population” does not clearly mean the largest share, and “the population were declined to 19%” confuses a population share with a population count. “Brookyln” is also misspelled, and “with over the same period of time” is an unsuitable phrase. Aim for accurate terms such as “accounted for,” “share,” and “rose/fell,” and check spelling and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the reader can usually understand the intended comparisons. However, control is inconsistent, with errors in agreement, tense and sentence construction. Examples include “the population were increased,” “the population were 79,216,” and “it were about quadrupled”; these require singular agreement and more suitable verb forms. The sentence beginning “in 1800 the population were 79,216” also needs clearer punctuation and structure. In “Only 54% of residents live in Manhattan in next 100 years,” the tense and article use are faulty. Use past simple consistently for these historical figures, and build comparisons in complete, clearly punctuated sentences. Greater accuracy across these patterns would make the report easier to read.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.