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 tables illustrates the changes in the population of New york as a whole between 1800 and 2000, and along with it it aslo shows the change in its five boroughs.

Overal, the population of new York increased drastically between 1800 and 2000. While Manhattan accounted for most of the population in 1800, but it had a drastic decrease by the 2000, where the other districts had a greater percentage of population.

New york had increase of residents from 79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000, with majority of residents in Manhattan of 76% whereas the other districts combined had 24% of population, but in 200 it was the oppsite with mjority of residents in combined other districts as 81% and in Manhattan only 19%.

In the year 1900, the population difference in manhattan and other districts was a close call but still manhattan had the upper hand with 54% as compared to 46% of other districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall change: New York City’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the combined share of the other districts grew. The percentages you report for 1800, 1900 and 2000 match the tables, and the 1900 comparison is a relevant feature. However, the account is only partly developed: it gives the city’s total population only for 1800 and 2000, omitting the 1900 figure of 3,437,202, and does not report the district population figures that show Manhattan’s population peaked in 1900 before declining. The overview is useful but could be more precise by distinguishing the city’s continuing growth from Manhattan’s changing population and share.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to supporting comparisons. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is limited because the final paragraph returns to the 1900 comparison without developing the earlier population figures, and the main body is not organised into clear, balanced comparisons across the three years. Linking is also sometimes awkward or repetitive: “While Manhattan accounted for most … but” combines two contrasting linkers, while “but in 2000” is used to introduce another contrast. Group the data by period or by Manhattan versus the other districts, and use fewer, more precise transitions to make the relationships clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “accounted for,” “percentage,” “residents” and “combined,” and the reader can generally understand the comparisons. However, the range is limited and several choices are informal or imprecise for an academic report. “A close call” and “had the upper hand” sound conversational; “the difference … was small” and “Manhattan still had a larger share” would be more suitable. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “Overal,” “aslo,” “oppsite” and “mjority,” as well as inconsistent capitalisation of “New York” and “Manhattan.” Use accurate, neutral terms such as “population share,” “accounted for” and “declined,” and proofread spelling and proper nouns.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some complex sentence forms, such as “While Manhattan accounted for most of the population in 1800…” and a comparison joined with “whereas.” However, control is uneven, and several sentences contain errors that make the relationships less clear. The opening has faulty agreement and structure: “The tables illustrates … and along with it it aslo shows.” In the overview, “While … but” incorrectly uses two contrasting conjunctions, and “the population … increased” is followed later by the ungrammatical “New York had increase of residents.” The long sentence beginning “New York had increase” also joins several comparisons without clear sentence boundaries. Practise accurate past-tense reporting, subject–verb agreement and shorter, controlled complex sentences.

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