Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-17

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)

Given table gives information about the change in population in New York and districts during the year 1800 to 2000. There are three tables representing New York City and five districts like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten island and bronx.

Overall, The highest population of New York City was in the year 2000 and lowest in 1800. Manhattan has the highest population overall the all five districts.

It was clearly evident that in the year 1900 New York City population is 3,437,202. Out of this manhattan has 1,850,093 alone which is 54% of total population while, other districts contribute only 1,587,109 which is around 46% of overall population.

Another interesting fact was that there is decline in manhattan population which has been reduced to 19% in 2000. And there is increase in other districts population to 81% numbered as 6,471,089. When we look upon the numbers we have come to know that there is a continuous increase in New York City population as it was 79,216 in 1800 then there was an increase of 3,437,202 in 1900 to 8,009,185 in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the broad pattern that New York City’s population rose from 79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000, and you accurately compare Manhattan with the other districts in 1900 and 2000, including their population shares. However, the overview is partly inaccurate: Manhattan did not have the highest population across the whole period, since the combined other districts were larger in 2000. The response also gives little detail about 1800 beyond the city total and does not clearly report Manhattan’s rise from 60,515 to 1,850,093 before its later decline to 1,538,096. To strengthen the summary, make the changing balance between Manhattan and the other districts the central overview and select key figures from all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and paragraphs presenting figures, and the information generally follows the timeline from 1900 to 2000 before returning to the overall population trend. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “Another interesting fact” and “When we look upon the numbers” help signal movement between points. However, progression is not always smooth: the overview’s claim about Manhattan conflicts with the later comparison, and the final paragraph repeats the city’s population figures after they have already been introduced. Some connections, such as “Out of this,” are imprecise. Group the data by the main comparison and use clear references to avoid repetition and contradiction.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “population,” “decline,” “increase,” “contribute” and “percentage,” so the main information is understandable. There is some variation in how you describe change, but several phrases are awkward or imprecise, such as “increase of 3,437,202” when you mean the population reached that figure, and “numbered as 6,471,089.” “Highest population overall the all five districts” is also unclear. Capitalisation and spelling are inconsistent in names such as “manhattan,” “bronx” and “Staten island.” Aim for precise collocations used in data reporting, and check proper nouns and phrasing so the reader can distinguish a population total from an increase.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including “Out of this … while …” and “When we look upon the numbers …,” and the intended meaning is usually clear. However, some errors in sentence structure, articles, agreement and punctuation reduce accuracy. For example, “Given table gives information” needs an article, while “during the year 1800 to 2000” uses an unsuitable time construction. In “there is decline … which has been reduced,” the tense and clause structure are awkward; “there was an increase of … to …” also does not express the figures accurately. Capitalisation after “Overall” and punctuation around “while” need attention. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build complex sentences around clear subjects and verbs.

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