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 first data illustrates that varitions in number of residents of New York city between 1800 to 2000.The second and third table displays changes in the number of inhabitants of the five

districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

Overall, in New York city ( all five districts) population is increased rapidly.furthmore in Manthattan districts population percentage goes down over the same period.However other districts population gradually increased on the same years.

Looking at the table in more details, the lowest numbers population of new york city in 1800 year around 79,216. Moreover, it increased by 4,437,202 numbers of population in the year 1900. Althogh the highest numbers of population is in 2000 year which was around 8,009,185.

In contrast, in the second table Manhattan district population is rose by 76 percent in the 1800 year which was higest percentage over the period.in the year 1900 the population is decreased by 54 percent .However in 2000 year the population goes down at the lowest percentage around 19 percent over the given period.

In the third table the other five district population is mentioned, the higest number of populaton is in 2000 year which was around 81 percent . Furthmore, the population is start decling and goes to 46 percent in the year 1900 , and similar in the year 1900 the population fall around 24 percent over the given period.

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AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern of rapid growth in New York City and the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts, which are relevant main features. However, several figures are misreported or described unclearly: the city’s population rose from 79,216 to 3,437,202 in 1900, not by 4,437,202; Manhattan’s population was 76% of the total in 1800, rather than having “risen by” 76%; and the other districts’ share increased from 24% to 46% to 81%, not declined. You also omit the important fact that Manhattan’s actual population peaked in 1900 before falling by 2000. More accurate comparisons and a clearer distinction between population totals and percentages would make the summary more complete and reliable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the city total, Manhattan, and the other districts. This gives the reader some organisation. However, progression within the detail paragraphs is weakened by unclear or contradictory sequencing, especially the claim that the other districts’ population “start decling” before giving the 1900 and 1800 figures. Linking words such as “Moreover,” “In contrast,” and “Furthermore” are used, but sometimes do not express the relationship between the data accurately. Some sentences also run together or lack clear punctuation, making the connections harder to follow. Grouping the figures in chronological order and using simple, precise comparisons would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “districts,” and “over the same period,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “population is rose,” “increased by 4,437,202 numbers,” and “population is start decling.” Repetition of “population” and “number” also makes the report less precise. Spelling errors, including “varitions,” “furthmore,” “Manthattan,” and “populaton,” are noticeable and sometimes slow the reader. Aim for accurate reporting verbs and collocations, for example “the population stood at,” “accounted for,” and “the share increased,” while checking spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentences, and the response is divided into paragraphs, but grammatical control is inconsistent. Errors occur in verb forms and agreement, for example “population is increased rapidly,” “population is rose,” and “the population is start decling.” Articles, sentence boundaries, and punctuation are also unreliable: “in the 1800 year” and “over the period.in the year” make the prose difficult to read. Some sentences communicate the intended comparison, but faulty structures frequently interrupt clarity. Practise forming accurate past-tense statements such as “The population increased” and “Manhattan’s share fell,” and use full stops and commas to separate complete ideas. A wider range of correctly controlled sentence patterns would strengthen the report.

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