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 given tables represent the change in population of different districts of New York a city of United State of America. The first tables shows overall increase in population of New York city . We can clearly see that the population of New York has significantly increased since year 1800. In early 1800s the population was just 79,216 but as the year passed by the population start increasing rapidly and within a century the population increase by 3,434,202. It doesn't just stopped there . After another century the population was increased more than the double it was in 1900s . The table is clearly showing that the population in 2000 was 8,009,185.As we pay attention to other tables we can clearly see that in Manhattan alone the population increased rapidly. From 1800 to 1900 the population increased a solid 54% which shows that it played a significant role in increase in population of New York . And on the other hand in the other four districts the population from 1800 to 1900 has increased by 46% which 8% less than Manhattan alone . But if we look from year 1900 to 2000 the story is entirely different. From 1900 to 2000 the population in Manhattan decreased by 3,11,997 almost . But in other districts the population exploded significanly. It almost increased by 4 times than in 1900s.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall rise, report the total population in 1800 and 2000, and compare Manhattan with the other districts across the periods. The contrast between Manhattan’s decline after 1900 and the growth elsewhere is particularly relevant. However, some figures and descriptions are inaccurate: the increase from 79,216 to 3,437,202 is not 3,434,202, and the 54% and 46% figures are each districts’ shares of the city total in 1900, not the amount by which their populations increased. Manhattan rose from 60,515 to 1,850,093 before falling to 1,538,096. The overview also needs to state clearly that the city’s total population rose throughout, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share grew. Clarifying these points would make the key features more fully and accurately reported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows a broadly sensible order: it begins with the citywide figures, then discusses Manhattan and the other districts, and uses time markers such as “from 1800 to 1900” to guide the reader. However, it is presented as one long paragraph, so the overview and supporting comparisons are not clearly separated. Several transitions are repetitive or mechanical, including “we can clearly see” and “on the other hand,” while the shift from the total population to district shares is not always easy to follow. Some references, such as “it” in “It almost increased by 4 times,” are unclear. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and details, and connect each comparison explicitly to the relevant population or percentage.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing change, including “increased,” “decreased,” “significant,” and “exploded,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is somewhat repetitive, with “population” and “increased” appearing frequently, and some choices are too informal or imprecise for an academic report. “The population exploded” is dramatic, while “a solid 54%” does not accurately describe the figure, which is a share of the total rather than a growth rate. There are also spelling and form errors, such as “significanly” and “a city of United State of America.” Aim for precise terms such as “accounted for,” “declined,” and “rose substantially,” and distinguish population totals from percentage shares.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including time comparisons introduced by “From 1800 to 1900” and “if we look from year 1900 to 2000.” The main message is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include “The first tables shows,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “the population start increasing,” which needs a past-tense verb. “It doesn't just stopped there” combines incompatible verb forms, and several sentences have missing or misplaced punctuation, such as the space before the full stop in “city .” and the missing space after “8,009,185.” Review past-tense consistency, subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries. More accurate control of these patterns would make your comparisons easier to read.

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