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)

The tables illustarte the evolution of the population in different United States cities -such as New York , Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island - over a period of 200 years between 1800 and 2000

Overall, New York City has always had the biggest population over these two decades , Manhattan was also considered as one of the biggest urbanized cities and its population continued to grow however its percentage of total population has decreased over this period , whereas it has experienced a sharp surge in other districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island .

New York City has always been that big urbanized city ; its population continued to raise from 79,216 in 1800 ti reach 8,009,185 in 2000 . Simultaneously, Manhattan's popululation has increased between 1800- when she had 60,515 which was so close to New York City'population-and 2000 to reach 1,538,096 but with a slower slope which can be explained by the decrease of the percentage of the total population from 76 percent to 19 percent

Simultanously, the population in many other cities such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island climbed contnuousily with a high slope and reached 81 percent of the total population in 2000 after being neglected in 1800 because they did represent only 24 percent or 18,701 citizens.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that New York City’s population grew substantially and that the other four districts gained a larger share over time. You also include relevant figures for 1800 and 2000. However, some key information is inaccurate or unclear: Manhattan’s population did not continue to grow throughout the period; it rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 in 2000. The claim that New York City “has always had the biggest population” is not a useful comparison, since it is the combined total of the districts. The 1900 figures and the shift in Manhattan’s population are important features that need clearer coverage. Describe the tables as data for one city and its districts, and compare all three years accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an introduction, an overview and two body paragraphs, and it generally moves from the citywide total to Manhattan and then the other districts. This gives the reader some overall structure. However, progression within the paragraphs is not always clear: the overview repeats claims about growth, while the body paragraphs move between population totals and percentages without consistently signalling the comparison. Linking words such as “Simultaneously” are repeated, and the final paragraph does not clearly connect the 1800 and 2000 figures to the missing 1900 stage. Use a more systematic order—overall trend, then each period or district group—and make references such as “it” and “they” unambiguous.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of vocabulary, including “evolution,” “sharp surge,” “urbanized,” and “percentage,” and the main topic remains understandable. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing tables: “different United States cities” misidentifies the districts, “big urbanized city” is awkward, and “with a high slope” does not naturally describe population growth. Spelling errors such as “illustarte,” “popululation,” and “contnuousily” are noticeable, while “neglected” gives an unsupported impression about the other districts. Choose precise, neutral terms for data and check spelling carefully. Phrases such as “population increased,” “accounted for,” and “rose sharply” would communicate the trends more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple statements and longer sentences with clauses, for example the sentence contrasting Manhattan’s population with its share of the total. However, attempts at complex structures are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. Examples include “between 1800- when she had,” the malformed phrase “New York City'population,” and the sentence beginning “after being neglected in 1800 because they did represent only 24 percent.” Tense and sentence-boundary control also need attention, particularly when describing changes across three dates. Use past-tense forms consistently for the historical data, build comparisons in complete clauses, and check punctuation around inserted explanations and figures.

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