Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 given table graph represents the information about the rate of population in New York City from 1800 to 2000; while, the second and third table charts eloborates knowledge about variations in population of four different districts of cities, namely, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island over period of time. Overall, the population of New York City rised dramatically at the end of the period.

As we can see from the table chart, the number of individuals in New York City increased drastically in 2000 from 79,216 to 8,009,185. A noticeable rise could be seen in population in Manhattan from approximately 60,515 in 1800 to 1,538,096 in 2000. In other four districts, a surge of population is observed about 24% in 1800, reached 81% in 2000 respectively.

In conclusion, New

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and note the changing balance between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the report is only partial: it omits the important 1900 figures and the fact that Manhattan’s population peaked then before falling by 2000. The comparison for the other districts gives percentages but not their population figures, and the overview does not summarise the shift in their share from a minority to a large majority. The final sentence, “In conclusion, New,” is unfinished, leaving the response incomplete. The required minimum length is not met, which limits how fully you can select and report the main features. Include all three years and complete the overview and comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, beginning with an introduction and overview, followed by data details and a concluding phrase. However, progression is limited: the second paragraph moves from the city total to Manhattan and then to the other districts without clearly comparing the three years, and the final line is cut off. Linking is also awkward or repetitive, as in “As we can see” and “In conclusion,” while the semicolon in the opening sentence does not create a clear relationship between its clauses. Group the information into a complete overview and logically ordered comparisons, and use straightforward links such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile” only where they clarify the relationship.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “population,” “increased drastically,” “noticeable rise,” and “surge,” so the main subject is generally understandable. There is also an attempt to vary wording. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing tables: “rate of population” should refer to population size, “eloborates knowledge” is not an appropriate way to introduce data, and “rised” is an incorrect word form. “Four different districts” is also inconsistent with the five districts named immediately afterwards. Repeated intensifiers such as “drastically” and “surge” do not add precise information. Prefer neutral, accurate terms such as “population,” “increased,” “accounted for,” and “share,” and check spelling and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including an opening sentence with a semicolon and a sentence beginning “As we can see.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in sentence construction and verb forms reduce accuracy. For example, “the population … rised” has an incorrect past-tense form, and “a surge of population is observed about 24% in 1800, reached 81% in 2000” lacks a clear grammatical structure for comparing percentages. The opening sentence also uses a semicolon awkwardly before “while,” and the final fragment, “In conclusion, New,” is incomplete. Use complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and practise accurate past-tense reporting and comparison structures, such as “The share rose from 24% to 81%.”

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