Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-15

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 rendered tables depict the information about the total citizen of New York city and population changes in the five districts of the city since 1800 to 2000.

Overall, in first year the population was the minimum, whereas in the maximum proportion was in the last year. Besides, in districts it show increased by the give time period.

In 1800, the strenght of people in all five districts were at 79,216 which was half taken from Manhattan about 76%, and 24% from other districts population. However, it rise in next year approximately 3,437,202 total population, in Manhattan around 1,850,093 strenght of people and Initialy, total population in other districts were at 46%.

In the case of 2000, in Manhattan the total count of people was at 19% which was declined in last year, and in the other districts had been inclined and reached at 81% however, the total strenght of people went to 8,009,185 in the New York city.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that New York’s population grew substantially and that the share living outside Manhattan increased, which are relevant main features. However, the overview is unclear: “the maximum proportion was in the last year” does not specify which group this refers to, and “in districts it show increased” overlooks that Manhattan’s population fell between 1900 and 2000. Some figures are also omitted or imprecisely reported. For example, you give the 1900 total and Manhattan’s population, but do not state that Manhattan accounted for 54%; the other districts’ 46% is mentioned without their population figure. Clarify the key contrasts and distinguish population totals from percentage shares to make the summary more complete and accurate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details for 1800, 1900 and 2000. This gives the reader some sense of the time sequence. However, progression within paragraphs is often difficult to follow, particularly in the sentence beginning “However, it rise in next year,” where the 1900 figures are joined to an unfinished shift in focus. Connectors such as “Besides,” “However,” and “In the case of” are used mechanically or do not clearly express the relationship between ideas. The overview also does not clearly preview the main comparisons. Organise the body around the three years or the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, and use clearer references and transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “population,” “proportion,” “declined,” and “reached,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, making parts of the report awkward or unclear. “Total citizen” is not an appropriate way to describe the city’s population, while “strength of people” is repeatedly used where “population” or “number of residents” is needed. “Half taken from Manhattan” also does not express the intended share. There are spelling errors such as “strenght” and “Initialy.” Aim for precise, conventional language for describing figures and shares, and avoid repeating improvised phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, but control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make relationships between figures hard to understand. Examples include “in districts it show increased,” “it rise in next year,” and “the total count of people was at 19% which was declined,” which contain problems with agreement, verb forms, and sentence construction. The sentence starting “However, it rise…” also joins ideas without a clear grammatical structure. Articles and prepositions are sometimes awkward, as in “in first year” and “reached at 81%.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build shorter, complete sentences before combining them with clauses; this will make comparisons clearer.

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

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