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 first table illustrates changes in total population of NewYorkCity from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show changes in the population of five districts (Manhattan,Brooklyn,Bronx,Queens and Staten Island ) over the same period. Overall, the population of New York City increased dramatically throughout the period. Although Manhattan initially had the highest share in population but over time its share fell, while the proportion of residents residing in other four districts surged.

To begin with, in 1800 the overall population of New York City was only 79,216, this drastically rose to 3,437,202 in 1900 and by 2000 it stoood at 8,009,185. Initially, in 1800 Manhattan accomodated 76% of New York City's population with 60,515 residents, whereas the other four districts accounted for 24% of New York's population accomodating 18,701 residents. In addition, in 1900 when the population of New York City increased the population of Manhattan climbed to 1,850,093. However its share fell

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall pattern accurately: New York City’s population rose sharply, while Manhattan’s share declined and the other districts’ share increased. The figures given for 1800 and 1900 match the tables. However, the response ends before reporting the 2000 district figures, so the key contrast at the end of the period is missing; the overview is therefore only partly supported. The final sentence is also unfinished (“However its share fell”), leaving the comparison incomplete. The response contains 140 words, below the required minimum of 150, and this contributes to the limited coverage. Include the 2000 figures and complete the comparison to address the data more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by a paragraph beginning “To begin with” that reports figures chronologically. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “whereas,” and “However” help signal comparisons. However, the progression is incomplete because the response stops mid-sentence after “However its share fell,” and does not move on to the 2000 data. The long opening paragraph also combines the task description and overview, while the body paragraph contains several separate comparisons without a clear concluding point. Use distinct paragraphs for the overview and detailed comparisons, and ensure each paragraph develops a complete stage or contrast. This would make the organisation clearer and cohesion less dependent on basic transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing population data, including “increased dramatically,” “share,” “accounted for,” and “climbed.” These choices communicate the main trends, and there is some variation rather than repeated use of “increased.” However, several word choices or forms are inaccurate or awkward: “accomodated” is misspelled and does not naturally describe population, while “residing in other four districts” is cumbersome. “Drastically rose” is less natural in this context than “rose sharply,” and “stoood” contains a spelling error. The range is adequate for the task but control is uneven. Prefer precise collocations such as “was home to,” “represented,” and “the remaining districts,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a contrast with “whereas” and a time clause beginning “when.” Meaning is generally understandable, but errors recur and some sentence structures are faulty. In “Although Manhattan initially had the highest share in population but over time its share fell,” “although” and “but” are incorrectly combined; use one or the other. The sentence beginning “in 1800 the overall population … was only 79,216, this drastically rose” joins two independent clauses with a comma. The final “However its share fell” is incomplete, and “by 2000 it stoood at” also contains a verb-form spelling slip that disrupts accuracy. Build complete sentences, punctuate clause boundaries correctly, and proofread verb forms and sentence endings.

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