Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-16

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 follwing tables illustrates that how the population of the following city was changed from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the population of all these cities were increased with time. As population of New York increased with time like other cities but in Manhattan population decreased from 1900 to 2000.

Firstly, the population of New York is increased from 79216 to [redacted phone] in 1800 to 1900 and also increased to [redacted phone] after 100 years.

secondly, in Manhattan, the population is also increased with time. In 1800 the given population increased to 76% of total population of city. After this the rapid growth of population is converted to gradually growth and 54% of growth were seen in the population as well as it increased only 19% during 100 years. On other hand, the population of other five cities is increased rapidly with time, like 24% during 1800, 46% during 1900 and 81% during 2000 which growth continuously with time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and the key shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts. The figures for the city total and the percentages are generally relevant, and you note that Manhattan’s population fell between 1900 and 2000. However, the overview is imprecise: “all these cities” suggests separate cities, and the statement that Manhattan’s population decreased does not distinguish its absolute population from its share of the total. In fact, its population rose from 60,515 to 1,850,093 before falling to 1,538,096, while its share declined throughout. Clarify this contrast and report the other districts’ combined population figures, not only their percentages, to make the main comparisons more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about the city total, Manhattan, and the other districts. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “secondly,” and “On other hand” help signal these sections. However, progression is not consistently clear because the Manhattan paragraph mixes population totals with percentages, and phrases such as “After this” do not clearly identify the period being discussed. The repeated use of “increased with time” also makes the links mechanical rather than precise. Organise the details by comparing the three years, or group the city total separately from the district comparison, and use clearer references such as “By 1900” and “over the following century.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “total population,” “rapid growth,” and “gradually,” so the reader can recognise the topic and intended trends. However, the range is limited and several repeated or inaccurate expressions reduce precision. “All these cities” is unsuitable because the data concern New York City and its districts, while “growth is converted to gradually growth” is difficult to interpret. “Increased” is also repeated where “rose,” “declined,” or “accounted for” would express the data more naturally. Spelling errors such as “follwing” are noticeable. Aim to use a small set of accurate trend and comparison terms, and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, including a contrast introduced by “On other hand,” but control is inconsistent. Errors in verb forms and agreement appear in “The follwing tables illustrates” and “the population … were increased”; the tables require “illustrate,” and population is singular. Several sentences also have unclear or faulty structures, such as “the given population increased to 76%,” where the percentage is a share rather than a population increase. Articles and prepositions are also often missing or awkward, as in “in Manhattan” and “during 100 years.” Use past simple forms to describe the historical data, and build shorter, complete sentences around one comparison at a time. This will make the trends easier to understand.

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

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