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 table depict the total population of New York from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables compares alter in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

Overall, it can be seen that New York have largest population in all over the year while Manhattan slightly decline through the year. Moreover, other districts were highest population proportion at the end of year.

Regarding the table, the total population of New York accounted 79,216 in 1800 and the expereniced a sharp surge 3,437,202 in 1900 residents. The figure continouse display strong growth around 8,009,185 in 2000.

In 1800, Manhattan had 60,515 city dwellers, ration 76% of total populaton. The next century witnessed a marked increase in almost 1.8 millions population and 54%. In 2000 had showed delined population 1.5 millions percentage 19%.

In contrast, Other districts starting at lowest population other than the Manhattan only 18, 701 as a 24%. In 1900 almost of the half citizens 1,587,109 constituting 46% and other districts dramaticaly surge 6,471,089 ratio 81% in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main periods and report the key overall contrast: Manhattan’s share falls while the other districts’ share rises. Most figures are accurate, including the city totals and the 2000 figures, and the overview identifies the broad shift in population distribution. This meets the task well, with some features reported more fully than others. However, “Manhattan slightly decline” understates the change: its population rises substantially from 1800 to 1900 before falling by 2000, even though its percentage share declines throughout. Make that distinction explicit, and clarify that the other districts’ combined population grows markedly. A more precise overview and fuller comparison of absolute population versus percentage share would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the total population and district figures. The sequence from 1800 to 2000 is generally easy to follow, and transitions such as “Moreover” and “In contrast” help signal relationships. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “The next century witnessed a marked increase in almost 1.8 millions population and 54%” does not clearly distinguish the population figure from the percentage, while “In 2000 had showed” disrupts the progression. Grouping the district comparisons more consistently and using clear references such as “Manhattan’s share” and “the combined population of the other districts” would make the relationships easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some suitable reporting language, including “sharp surge,” “marked increase,” and “In contrast,” and you attempt to describe both population totals and proportions. However, vocabulary control is uneven, with several inaccurate forms or collocations that make parts of the report difficult to interpret: “alter in the population,” “ration,” “delined population,” and “dramaticaly surge.” Spelling errors such as “expereniced,” “continouse,” and “populaton” also reduce precision. Choose standard data-reporting expressions and check word forms and spelling carefully. For example, use “changes in population,” “accounted for,” “declined,” and “rose dramatically.” This would make your meaning more consistently clear and appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt a range of sentence forms, including an overview and time-linked comparisons, but grammatical control is inconsistent. Subject–verb agreement is incorrect in “The first table depict” and “The second and third tables compares”; the opening overview also has faulty structure in “New York have largest population in all over the year.” Several clauses are incomplete or missing necessary grammatical elements, as in “In 2000 had showed delined population” and “In 1800, Manhattan had 60,515 city dwellers, ration 76%.” These errors sometimes make relationships between figures unclear. Practise complete sentence patterns, accurate verb agreement and tense, and constructions such as “accounted for 76%” and “the population had declined to…” before attempting more complex comparisons.

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