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 depicted graph delineate the information in an elaborated manner. the overall scenerio of the given tables quite vividly delivers the change in newyork population overall throughout years and population in different disricts of new york through out the years. IN detail as we scrutinized the given graph it demonstrates that the population in new york in 1800 is small but the population increase at large amount in 1900 but the population increase immensely after century in 2000.

The other table shows the population in five districts of newyork. in second table the population of manhattan is 76% in the year 1800 the century later the population decreased. it is noted that the population is decreased very few in 2000.

in other districts(brooklyn, bronx, queens, staten island) the population is 24% and century later the population increased very few but the population increased immensely in 2000. after studying the table it is disclosed that the population is increased in 2000 at large amount.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that New York’s population grew substantially, and you compare Manhattan with the other districts. However, the report is only partially developed: it gives no population figures for the city and does not clearly state the key contrast that Manhattan’s population rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 in 2000, while the other districts continued to grow to 6,471,089. The claim that Manhattan’s population “decreased very few” is unclear and understates the change in its share, from 54% to 19%. Likewise, the other districts’ share rose from 46% to 81%, not merely “increased very few” before 2000. Include accurate figures and a concise overview of these contrasting trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall arrangement: it introduces the tables, discusses Manhattan, and then turns to the other districts. This gives the reader a general sense of the topics being covered. However, progression within the paragraphs is limited, and several ideas are repeated, especially the statements that the population “increased immensely” and “at large amount.” Linking phrases such as “in detail,” “in other districts,” and “after studying the table” do not always clarify how the information relates. The overview and details are also not clearly separated. Organise the response into a brief introduction, a clear overview, and focused detail paragraphs, using comparisons to connect the figures rather than repeating general claims.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of reporting vocabulary, including “demonstrates,” “scrutinized,” and “disclosed,” but several choices are unnatural or imprecise for describing tables. Phrases such as “the overall scenerio … delivers the change” and “population increase at large amount” make the meaning less clear. There is also repetition of “population,” “increased,” and “immensely,” while spelling and capitalisation errors such as “scenerio,” “disricts,” and “newyork” reduce accuracy. Use straightforward, precise terms such as “shows,” “rose,” “fell,” “accounted for,” and “share.” A more controlled range of accurate trend vocabulary would make the comparisons clearer and more appropriate to an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response mainly uses simple statements, with attempts at longer clauses, but these are often faulty. For example, “the population in new york in 1800 is small but the population increase at large amount in 1900” has inconsistent tense and an incomplete comparison, while “the population is decreased very few in 2000” uses an incorrect verb construction. Subject–verb agreement and articles are also unreliable, as in “the overall scenerio … delivers” and “in second table.” Sentence boundaries and capitalisation are inconsistent, making the writing harder to follow. Practise accurate past-tense reporting (“rose,” “fell,” “accounted for”) and build longer sentences around clear comparisons, checking agreement, articles, and punctuation.

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