Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-23

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 table illustrates the changes in the population of New York City on table one for three centuries where as on other two tables its descbrie population of major five districs which are manhattan, brooklyn, bronx, queens and staten island from 1800 to 2000.

To start with the total population of New York city its shows the many up side flow in it amoung the years. for instance in the year 1800 it was 79,216 where is increased to 3,437,202 in the year 1900. which was the major increase in the population but thats not the end it has increased from that number to 8,009,185 in the year 2000. which shows the up ward slop amoung the population in new york city amoung this centuries.

Adding on, the other two tables describes the population amoung the five districts where in the one table it show for Manhattan and other table it shows for remaning four districts. we see that there is an gradully rose amoung 1800 to 2000 which was 24% to 81% respectiviely. where has we see an down side rose in the manhattan from 76% to 19% amoung those years respectiviely.

To conclude, we see an change amoung the population which is going up amoung all districts from 1800 to 2000 but Manhattan has an decrease in the population for that 200 years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report the overall rise in New York City’s population and identify the key contrast between Manhattan and the other four districts. The figures for the city total and the percentage changes (Manhattan from 76% to 19%, and the other districts from 24% to 81%) are accurate. However, the account is only partly developed: it does not clearly state 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 substantially. The conclusion that population went up in “all districts” is also inaccurate, since Manhattan’s population declined after 1900. Focus the overview on the main turning point and distinguish population totals from shares of the city total.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on the city total, a paragraph comparing the district groups, and a conclusion. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within sentences is sometimes difficult to follow, especially in “which was the major increase … but thats not the end,” and the final paragraph repeats earlier points rather than drawing together the main comparison. Linking expressions such as “To start with” and “Adding on” are used, but some connections are mechanical or unclear. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each figure directly to the trend it supports; also make references such as “that number” and “those years” explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “total population,” “districts,” “increased,” and “decrease,” so the main subject is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several repeated or inaccurate expressions make the report less precise. Phrases such as “many up side flow,” “up ward slop,” and “down side rose” are not natural ways to describe population trends; “rose steadily,” “increased sharply,” or “declined” would be clearer. There are also noticeable spelling errors in words such as “descbrie,” “districs,” and “respectiviely.” Build a small set of accurate trend and comparison phrases, and check spelling and word forms before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine ideas using clauses and time references, but sentence structures are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “its shows the many up side flow” has problems with subject–verb agreement and sentence construction, while “where is increased to” does not form a correct clause. Several sentences begin with fragments, including “which was the major increase” and “where has we see.” Punctuation and capitalisation are also inconsistent, particularly after full stops and in the names of New York City and Manhattan. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use simple past forms consistently when describing the historical figures.

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