Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-18

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 above three tables shows a very huge changes occurs in new York city from early 1800's to 2000. The first chart collectively shows the number of population in all five districts of New York, which reportedly shows that the number of people were 79,216 in 1800 which increased to [redacted phone] in 1900 and later on recorded as [redacted phone] in 2000.

As if we compares the number of population of Manhattan with other 4 districts of new york then the reports shows that in early 1800 a large portion of the population of new york was based in manhattan with 76%of total population of New York city while other 24% were living in other 4 districts.But with passage of time people were shifting to other 4 districts of New York and in 1900s the percentage of population living in manhattan were decreased to 54% while population in other districts were reportedly increased to 46%.similarly this decline in number of population in manhattan was recorded upto 19% in 2000 whearas on otherside the 4 districts recorded a huge increase in population upto 81% of total population of New York.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report the main overall rise in New York’s population and identify the key shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts. The figures you give for the total and the percentages match the tables. However, the response does not fully develop the comparison: it omits Manhattan’s actual population figures, including its decline from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000, and does not give the other districts’ combined population figures. The phrase “people were shifting” also suggests movement between districts, which the tables do not establish; they show changing population totals and shares. A clearer overview contrasting the city’s growth with Manhattan’s falling share would make the main features more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response follows a generally understandable order: it first describes the citywide totals, then compares Manhattan with the other districts across the three years. This gives the reader a coherent overall arrangement. Linking expressions such as “while,” “with passage of time,” and “similarly” help connect the comparisons, although some transitions feel mechanical and the long second paragraph contains several stages without clear breaks. The opening sentence also does not establish a concise overview before the detailed figures. Separate the overview from the supporting comparisons, and use clearer sentence boundaries when moving from 1800 to 1900 and then 2000. This would make the progression easier to follow and reduce reliance on repeated contrast markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic vocabulary to communicate the main comparisons, including “total population,” “percentage,” “decline,” and “increase.” There are also attempts at more formal reporting language, such as “recorded” and “reportedly.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, including “a very huge changes,” “number of population,” and “people were shifting,” which overstates what the tables show. Repetition of “population” and “other 4 districts” also limits precision. Use standard collocations such as “the population rose” and “accounted for,” and refer to the four districts collectively as “the other districts.” More accurate, varied phrasing would make the report clearer and more appropriately academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, for example, the comparison beginning “As if we compares…” and the sentence contrasting the 1800 shares. However, errors are frequent and sometimes make the relationships harder to follow. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent (“tables shows,” “reports shows,” “we compares”), and verb forms are often incorrect (“changes occurs,” “were decreased”). Articles and sentence construction also need attention, while missing spaces after full stops and commas affect punctuation. Aim first for accurate, controlled sentences: “The tables show…” and “Manhattan’s share fell to 54% in 1900.” Then combine ideas using a clear contrast clause, checking agreement and tense in each sentence.

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