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 three table shows the data of population growth in New York city's five districts as well as a percentage of total population in Manhattan, and Brooklyn,Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island in the period from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, First table shows that the highest growth of population was observed in 2000 at New York included its all five districts altogether. The secod table gives the information of Manhattan with the highest rate of population in 1900. The third table demonstrates the data about other districts with its totla population with the highest rate in 2000.

Generally, it is observed that New York including its all districtrs hava high increase in population with the values of 79216, [redacted phone], [redacted phone] in years 1800, 1900, 2000 respectively; However the second and third table shows the percentage of total population seprately.

The Second table illustrates the Manhattan's total population was declined contineusly from 1800 to 2000. It was observed that in 1800 the total population was 76% and it experienced a significant decrease in 1900 with 54% of total population. In 2000 it remains 19% with another decrease.

The third table shows the percentage of total population of other four districts. The Survey shows a dramatic increase in total population which starts from 24% in 1800 and experienced the highest percentage rate 81% in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the broad trends: New York City’s total population rose substantially, Manhattan’s share fell, and the other four districts’ share increased. The overview also correctly notes Manhattan’s largest population was in 1900. However, some key details are incomplete or imprecise. You report the percentages but omit the district population figures, including Manhattan’s rise from 60,515 to 1,850,093 before falling to 1,538,096, and the other districts’ growth to 6,471,089. The phrase “Manhattan’s total population was declined continuously” is also inaccurate because its population increased between 1800 and 1900. Develop the comparisons with accurate figures and distinguish population totals from percentage shares more clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for the city total and the district groups. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the city’s overall increase is described in both the overview and the next paragraph, while the district paragraphs mainly repeat percentage trends. Linking words such as “Generally,” “However” and “The third table shows” are used mechanically, and “However” does not clearly express a contrast in its sentence. Some references are also unclear, particularly “the second and third table shows the percentage … separately.” Group the information more purposefully and use comparisons to connect the figures across years and districts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “significant decrease” and “dramatic increase,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “highest rate of population,” “highest percentage rate,” and “experienced the highest percentage rate.” These expressions blur the distinction between population size and population share. Spelling errors—including “secod,” “totla,” “districtrs,” “seprately” and “contineusly”—are noticeable and reduce precision. Aim for accurate, repeated-use terms such as “population total,” “share of the city’s population,” “rose” and “fell,” and check spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary would make the comparisons clearer without requiring unnecessarily complex wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. Some grammatical errors nevertheless affect clarity. For example, “The three table shows” has a number-agreement error, and “Manhattan’s total population was declined” uses an incorrect verb construction. In “the second and third table shows,” both the plural noun and verb form need attention. Articles and sentence boundaries are also inconsistent, as in “at New York included its all five districts altogether.” Try to build reliable comparison patterns, such as “Manhattan’s population rose from … to …, then fell to …,” and check subject–verb agreement, verb forms and punctuation in each sentence. This would improve accuracy while preserving your attempts at complex sentences.

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