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 table provides information about changes in the total population of New York City between 1800 and 2000, while the second and third tables demonstrate alteration in the population of the five districts of the city ( Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) during the same period.

Overall, the highest population of New York City was in 2000, whereas in the same year Manhattan recorded the lowest population. Moreover, the entire population increased throughout the period.

As can be seen from the chart, in 2000, the population of manhattan recorded 1,538,096, which was 19% which was the lowest among other districts. In contrast, population of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten island accounted for 6,471,089, which was 81% which was the highest than manhattan. Total population of New York City was 8,009,185.

In 1800, the proportion of total population in manhattan was 60,515, which was 76%, which was the highest of the year. In the contray, the population for other districts was the lowest represented for 18,701, which was 24%. Overall, total population of New York City in these year recorded 79,216.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall rise in New York City’s population and make a useful comparison between Manhattan and the combined other districts in 1800 and 2000. The figures and percentages you report for those years are accurate. However, the response only partly covers the information: it omits the 1900 data, including the important shift when Manhattan still had a majority (54%) but the other districts had grown to 46%. The overview also says Manhattan had the lowest population in 2000, although the table gives only a combined figure for the other four districts, not separate district populations. To develop the report more fully, include the 1900 figures and describe the changing shares across all three dates.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for 2000 and 1800. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, the progression is incomplete because the years are presented in reverse order and 1900 is omitted, so the central change over time is not clearly traced. Linking phrases such as “In contrast” and “Moreover” help signal comparisons, but repeated patterns such as “which was … which was …” make connections mechanical and sometimes unclear. For example, the 2000 sentence does not clearly distinguish the population figure from its percentage. Organise the body chronologically and use clearer references to connect each year’s figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing tables, including “population,” “proportion,” “accounted for” and “increased throughout the period.” This is enough to communicate the main subject and some comparisons. However, several choices are inaccurate or repetitive: “demonstrate alteration” is unnatural for describing changes, and “the highest than Manhattan” is not an appropriate comparison. “Recorded” is also repeated where simpler verbs such as “was” or “stood at” would be more natural. There are spelling and form slips in “contray” and the inconsistent capitalisation of “Manhattan” and “Staten Island.” Aim for precise, conventional reporting language and check spelling and proper nouns.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, and the overall meaning is generally understandable. However, complex sentences are not consistently controlled. In “which was 19% which was the lowest,” the repeated relative clause creates an awkward, unclear structure; the same problem occurs in the sentence about the other districts. The opening sentence also has an awkward construction around “while the second and third tables demonstrate alteration.” Articles and sentence patterns need attention, as in “population of Brooklyn” and “the highest than Manhattan.” Use shorter, well-controlled comparisons where needed, and check that each clause has a clear grammatical connection. More accurate sentence construction would make the data easier to follow.

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