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 illustration below gives us information about the changes in the total population of New York city and the changes in the population of the five districts of the city from 1800 to 2000

Overall, from 1800 towards 2000 population increase is seen in all five districts. Furthermore, Manhattan population was high in 1800 but it comes on low ratios in further years in comparison with other districts.

Firstly, in 1800 all five districts of New York city population was 79,216 and a year pass it grows 3,437,202. In 2000 rapidly population growth is seen around 8,009,185.

Secondly, in the year 1800, Manhattan district of New York population was 67% and other districts were 24%. Moreover, in 1900, Manhattan population was 54% and on the other districts was 46%. Besides this, in 2000, other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) population shows rapid increase to 81% and in comparison Manhattan population shows decrease to 15%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad population growth and the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts, which are relevant main features. However, several figures are inaccurate: Manhattan had 76%, not 67%, in 1800, and its share in 2000 was 19%, not 15%. The total population figures are correct, but “a year pass” incorrectly suggests only one year elapsed between 1800 and 1900. The response also gives little detail about Manhattan’s population rising and then falling in absolute terms. The required minimum of 150 words is not met; the response contains 135 words, with 20 words copied from the prompt excluded from the count. Include accurate comparisons and develop the key trends more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs beginning with “Firstly” and “Secondly.” This helps the reader recognise the main stages of the report. However, progression is limited because the body paragraphs mostly list figures rather than grouping and comparing the trends clearly. Some linking expressions, such as “Moreover” and “Besides this,” are used mechanically and do not always show a meaningful relationship between the points. The overview also repeats the idea of population increase without clearly distinguishing total population growth from the changing distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. Organise the details around these two comparisons and use transitions that make the relationship between figures explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “total population,” “districts,” “percentage,” and “rapid population growth,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several phrases are unnatural or imprecise, such as “comes on low ratios,” “a year pass it grows,” and “population shows decrease.” These choices make some comparisons harder to understand and reduce the precision expected in a data report. Use standard collocations for describing change, such as “accounted for,” “rose to,” and “declined to,” and distinguish between population size and population share. Avoid repeating “population” where a clearer reference such as “the figure” or “its share” would work.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a few longer sentence forms, including “Furthermore, Manhattan population was high in 1800 but it comes on low ratios in further years,” but control is inconsistent. Errors in tense, agreement, articles, and sentence construction occur throughout: “a year pass it grows” should use a past-tense form and a clearer clause structure, while “all five districts of New York city population was” has a faulty subject and verb relationship. The opening sentence also lacks a full stop, and several later sentences have awkward clause connections. These problems sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. Practise accurate simple comparisons first, then add subordinate clauses while checking verb forms and sentence boundaries.

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.