Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-21

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)

We have three tables, the first table illustrates the diversion in total population of New York City during 1800 to 2000. The third and Second tables represent the diversification of 5 different districts of the city including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens & Staten Island.

The overall poplution rose drastically in 1900 from 79,216 to 3,437,202. Thereafter in 2000, gained peak through 3 times. if we breakthrough the population in Manhattan itself stayed at the peak from the begining with 60,515 population in 1800 and grabbed the 76% of population itself. Whereas, the other four cities population are at the 24% only with 18,701 people.

In 1900, Manhattan slightly dropped in contribution in others city with 54% with 1,850,093. On the other hand, all four other cities drastically reached the peak and grabbed the percentage of 46% with 1,587,109 people.

By the end of the period, the percentage declined sharply from 54% to 19% in 2000 with 1,538,096 in Manhattan itself. while, the others rose steadily from 46% to 81% in 2000 relatively to Manhatten.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: New York City’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. The key figures for 1800 and 1900 are mostly reported accurately, and the comparison between Manhattan and the combined other districts is relevant. However, some features are less fully or clearly described. The total population in 2000 is not given, and “gained peak through 3 times” does not clearly state that the total reached 8,009,185, more than twice its 1900 level. Also, the other districts are four districts, not “four cities.” A clearer overview and precise reporting of the final total would make the summary more complete and easier to follow.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally sensible structure: an introduction, followed by comparisons for 1800, 1900 and 2000. Paragraphing helps separate the time periods, and linking expressions such as “Whereas,” “On the other hand” and “By the end of the period” show an effort to connect ideas. However, some connections are awkward or unclear. For example, “Manhattan slightly dropped in contribution in others city” makes the relationship between the figures difficult to understand, and “while, the others rose steadily” does not clearly identify the comparison. The introduction also refers to the tables in a confusing order. Use clearer topic sentences and refer consistently to “Manhattan” and “the other districts” to improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of vocabulary, including “drastically,” “contribution,” “declined sharply” and “rose steadily,” and some choices communicate the broad trends. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, sometimes obscuring the data. “Diversion” does not mean a change in population, while “grabbed the 76%” and “reached the peak” are unsuitable for describing population shares. There are also spelling errors, including “poplution,” “begining” and “Manhatten.” Prefer precise, conventional language for data reporting, such as “increased,” “accounted for” and “population share.” This would make your vocabulary more accurate and appropriate to an academic summary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “Whereas” and a time clause beginning “By the end of the period.” However, some grammatical errors make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “Thereafter in 2000, gained peak through 3 times” lacks a clear subject and has an incomplete verb construction. In “the other four cities population are,” the possessive and subject–verb agreement are faulty, and “while, the others rose” has problematic punctuation and sentence connection. Capitalisation after a full stop is also inconsistent, as in “while.” Aim to make each sentence’s subject and verb explicit, and check agreement, clause boundaries and punctuation when combining comparisons.

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