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 first table chart provides the information of population changes in New York City between 1800 and 2000, while the second and third table charts illustrate the population changes in five districts of the city during the same period.

Overall, it is noticeable that population in New York City(all five districts) increased over the given period. Both the total population percentage and population in other districts rose, while the percentage of total population in Manhattan decreased and it population fluctuated.

With regard to the first figure, in 1800, the population in New York city started off at 79216 and it witnessed a significant increase from approximately [redacted phone] to [redacted phone] over 100 year period.

Manhattan population was around 60500 with 76% of total population, whereas the population in other districts was 18701, which was 24% of the total. Following that, in 1900, residents number in Manhattan was [redacted phone] and the percentage of total population declined and reached at 54%. In 2000, the population in Manhattan and other districts were [redacted phone], with 19% and [redacted phone], which was 81% of the total population, respectively. However, the total percentage in other districts dramatically increased from 24% to 81% from 1800 to 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts, which are central features of the tables. You also include relevant figures for all three years. However, some reporting is incomplete or inaccurate: the total population rose from 79,216 to 3,437,202 in 1900 and then to 8,009,185 in 2000, but “a significant increase from approximately 342700 to 8009185” omits a digit in the 1900 figure and does not clearly describe both stages. The overview also says Manhattan’s population “fluctuated” without explaining that it rose sharply by 1900 and then fell by 2000. Clarify this pattern and distinguish population totals from percentages to make the key comparisons more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph presenting figures and comparisons. Sequencing from 1800 to 1900 and then 2000 is generally easy to follow, and phrases such as “Overall,” “With regard to,” and “Following that” help signal progression. However, some links are mechanical or unclear. “Following that” does not specify the time relationship as directly as “By 1900,” and the final sentence repeats the rise in the other districts’ share already reported. The overview’s reference to “Both the total population percentage and population in other districts” is also difficult to follow. Use clearer references and organise the detailed paragraph around the total population trend and the contrasting district trends.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “declined,” “significant increase,” and “dramatically increased.” These choices allow the reader to understand the main trends. However, some expressions are awkward or imprecise for describing tables: “provides the information of population changes,” “residents number,” and “the total percentage in other districts” do not express the intended comparisons naturally. “Started off” is also less suitable for a formal report, while “fluctuated” is not precise for a rise followed by a fall. Aim for standard collocations such as “shows changes in,” “the number of residents,” and “accounted for.” These refinements would make the description more precise and consistently academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a comparison with “whereas” and a time clause beginning “while.” Most of the meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “it population fluctuated” needs a possessive determiner (“its”), and “the population in Manhattan and other districts were” has a subject–verb agreement problem; the two populations should be described as separate figures. The sentence “increased from approximately 342700 to 8009185 over 100 year period” also needs clearer sentence structure and an article in “a 100-year period.” Check punctuation and spacing too, as in “New York City(all five districts).” More accurate control of agreement, articles, and sentence construction would improve clarity.

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

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