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)

The first table illustrates changes in the total population of New York City between 1800 to 2000 year. And second and thirds table display the population of the five districts of the city include Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island within the same period.

Overall , population is increased significantly in the New York City with the passage of time.Neverthless proportion of Manhattan city population is decresead over the same time.

In 1800, Population of all five distinct in the New York City is 79,216 in which 70% of citizen are from the Manhattan district remaining 24% people are from the other district. In 1900, the proportion of population is raised to reached 3,437,202. Manhattan residents are 54% figures included and 46% figures from other district .

And in 2000, total population increased 8,009,185.In this year, population of the Manhattan inhabitant decresead prominentaly to only 19% figures. And other 81% of citizen are from the other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island).

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall pattern: New York City’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share declined. You also report the total populations for all three years and compare Manhattan with the other districts, so the response is relevant to the tables. However, the 1800 figure is inaccurate: Manhattan accounted for 76%, not 70%. The overview is brief, and the comparison could be more precise by noting that Manhattan’s population itself rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 in 2000, while the other districts grew markedly. The response is also 144 words, below the 150-word minimum; 18 words copied from the prompt were excluded from the count. Develop the key comparisons and check figures carefully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a chronological account of 1800, 1900 and 2000. This helps readers follow the broad timeline. However, progression within the body is sometimes awkward, and several links are either mechanical or unclear. Beginning a paragraph with “And in 2000” is informal and does not create a smooth transition, while “In 1900, the proportion of population is raised to reached 3,437,202” confuses the total population with a proportion. Punctuation spacing and sentence boundaries also interrupt the flow. Grouping the figures into a clearer comparison of Manhattan and the other districts, and using precise links such as “By contrast” and “By 2000,” would make the organisation more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing tables, including “total population,” “proportion,” “residents” and “increased.” However, the range is limited, and inaccurate word choice, collocation and spelling are noticeable. “Five distinct” is not the correct noun for city areas, and “Manhattan city population” is an awkward phrase. Expressions such as “54% figures included” and “19% figures” make the data difficult to interpret. There are also spelling errors in “Neverthless,” “decresead” and “prominentaly.” Aim for standard data-reporting phrases and check word forms and spelling; this will make your comparisons clearer and more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the main message is generally understandable. However, errors occur frequently, and some attempted structures are faulty. For example, “between 1800 to 2000 year” uses an incorrect preposition pattern, while “population is increased” and “proportion … is decresead” use unsuitable verb forms. The sentence beginning “In 1900” also lacks a clear grammatical relationship between the population total and the percentages. Articles, plurals and punctuation are inconsistent, as in “the other district” and the run-on spacing in “time.Neverthless.” Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build shorter, complete sentences before adding more complex comparisons.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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