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 provided tables illustrate the changes in the total populace of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The other tables depict the fluctuation in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

In 1800, all the five districts of New York had the population of 79216, which rose to 3.4 million over the next century. In 2000, New York was accomodating over 8 million inhabitants. Manhattan used to be the largest district; having population of 76%, while other four districts constituted 24% of the total residents. The populace of Manhattan declined gradually to 54% in next hundred years. Conversely, the population of other four districts inclined gradually to 46%. In 2000, the population of Manhattan further dipped to only 19% of the total population, while the percentage of residents of other four districts rose significantly to 81%.

Generally, the populace of Manhattan has been in the decreasing trend, while the population of the other districts have been increasing gradually.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad changes: New York’s total population grew substantially, Manhattan’s share fell, and the other districts’ share rose. The percentages you report match the tables, and the final comparison gives a relevant overview. However, the response is under the required minimum: it contains 142 words, with 29 words copied from the prompt excluded from the count. More importantly, it misreports the 1800 total as the population of all five districts; 79,216 is the citywide figure, while Manhattan had 60,515 and the other districts 18,701. You also describe Manhattan’s population as declining, although its number rose to 1,850,093 by 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 in 2000. Include these key absolute figures and clarify the distinction between population and percentage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable introduction, a paragraph presenting figures and comparisons, and a concluding overview. Linking expressions such as “Conversely” and “while” help show the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the progression is not fully clear because the main paragraph moves between the citywide total, district shares, and trends without consistently distinguishing absolute population from percentage share. The conclusion repeats the same general contrast rather than adding a clear summary of the most important change. Some phrasing, such as “In 2000” followed by “Generally,” also makes the final overview feel detached from the preceding details. Organise the body chronologically or by district, and use explicit references to “population” and “share” to make each comparison easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of relevant terms, including “total population,” “constituted,” “declined,” and “rose significantly,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are, however, several inaccurate or unnatural choices that limit precision. “Fluctuation” suggests repeated ups and downs, while the tables show changes across three dates; “inclined” is not the natural verb for an increase; and “Manhattan used to be the largest district” is less precise than describing its share of the city total. “Populace” is also repeated where “population” would be clearer and more appropriate for data reporting. There is a spelling error in “accomodating.” Choose standard collocations for describing figures and trends, and vary vocabulary only when the alternative is accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including a complex contrast in “while the percentage of residents … rose significantly to 81%,” and most of the message can be understood. However, errors in articles, sentence construction, and agreement remain noticeable. For example, “had the population of 79216” needs a more accurate grammatical structure, while “having population of 76%” is an incomplete construction and needs an article or a rewritten clause. In “the population of the other districts have been increasing,” the singular subject “population” requires “has.” The phrase “in next hundred years” also needs an article. Use complete clauses and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and tense consistency when describing changes across the three dates.

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

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