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 first table illustrates the shift in the number of people living in New York city between 1800 to 2000 while the second and third tables display how the population of five districts in New York city changed throughout the same time time frame.

Overall, the population grew significantly throughout this period. Moreover, Manhatten initially, was more densely populated that the other 4 district combined, however, this changed drastically over the years with the other 4 districts coming out on top.

The population of New York city rose considerably from 79216 in 1800 to a staggering [redacted phone] in 2000. Similarly, the population of 5 of its district also increased. In 1900, Manhatten almost trippled its initial figure in 1800 comprising of 76% of the total population of New York city, while in 2000 that figure dipped to around [redacted phone] accounting for 19% of the total population

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall pattern: New York’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts became dominant. The figures you give for 1800 and 2000 are accurate, and the 2000 Manhattan figure and percentage are also correct. However, the response is incomplete: it does not report the population of the other districts in 2000, and the 1900 comparison is unclear and inaccurate. Manhattan rose from 60,515 to 1,850,093 in 1900, not merely “almost trippled” its initial figure; it was about thirty times larger. The response also stops before fully comparing the three years. It is four words below the required minimum. Include the key 1900 and 2000 comparisons and complete the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and a detail paragraph, and “Overall” helps signal the main summary. The ideas are generally relevant and can be followed. However, the final paragraph ends abruptly after the Manhattan figures, leaving the comparison with the other districts unfinished. The detail paragraph also moves from the citywide total to district trends and then to Manhattan without a clear, complete sequence across the years. Some linking is mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “while” and “similarly.” Organise the details chronologically or compare Manhattan with the combined other districts in each year, and use linking phrases to make those relationships explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some suitable task vocabulary, including “population,” “accounting for,” “total population” and “dipped,” and the meaning is mostly clear. There is also an attempt to vary expression with “rose considerably” and “a staggering” figure. However, several choices are imprecise or informal for an academic data summary: “shift in the number of people” is less direct than describing a change in population, and “coming out on top” is conversational. “Densely populated” is not the right comparison here, since the tables show population totals and shares, not population density. Spelling errors such as “Manhatten” and “trippled” are noticeable. Choose precise terms such as “accounted for,” “surpassed” and “population share,” and check spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast introduced by “however” and a clause beginning “while.” The overall meaning is usually understandable, but errors in sentence construction and punctuation recur. In the opening, “between 1800 to 2000” uses the wrong preposition pattern; write “between 1800 and 2000.” The phrase “Manhatten initially, was” has an unnecessary comma, and “more densely populated that” should use “than” (though the comparison itself should be reframed). The final sentence lacks a full stop and combines several details in a way that makes the relationship between them unclear. Review comparative structures, punctuation around introductory adverbs, and sentence boundaries, then proofread each sentence for completeness.

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