Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-24

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 tables illustrates the data of the total population in five districts of new york city.

Overall, it is clear that the manhattan had significant highest percentage in 18 century. In contrast, it drametically decreased in 20th century. While, the other districts population continuous incread steadily in each decaids.

The noticeable feature is that the New York city had 79216 number of population in 1800 from them 76 percentage, 60515 number of people living in the Manhattan and remain 24 percentage in the Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. However, in 1900, the number of population in this four districts almost double reach 46 percentage and in 2000, it has 81 percentage. On the other hand, in 2000, the total population in the New York city is [redacted phone]. But, at that time only 19 percentage people in the Manhattan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify two important features: Manhattan’s share falls over time, while the combined share of the other four districts rises. You also include several relevant figures, such as the 76% and 24% shares in 1800 and the 81% share for the other districts in 2000. However, coverage is partial: the total population’s growth to 8,009,185 is mentioned, but the major increase from 79,216 in 1800 to 3,437,202 in 1900 is not clearly described. The 1900 population of the other districts did not “almost double”; their share rose to 46%. The response also stops without completing its final comparison and is 11 words below the required minimum. Add a complete summary and accurately compare the key stages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an opening, an overview and a paragraph containing figures. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression is weakened by abrupt or unclear links, such as “While, the other districts population…” and “But, at that time…”. The final sentence is incomplete, so the comparison about Manhattan in 2000 is left hanging. Some linking expressions, including “However” and “On the other hand,” do not clearly signal the relationship between the figures that follow. Organise the details chronologically, use transitions that accurately show contrast or continuation, and finish each sentence and paragraph with a complete point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “population,” “decreased,” and “steadily,” and the reader can generally identify the intended comparisons. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning less clear. For example, “significant highest percentage” is not a natural way to describe Manhattan’s leading share, and “number of population” should be expressed more directly. There are also spelling errors in “drametically,” “incread,” and “decaids.” Use precise terms such as “share,” “accounted for,” and “combined population,” and check spelling and word forms before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast introduced with “While” and a time clause beginning “in 2000.” However, errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. For instance, “The tables illustrates” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “the manhattan had significant highest percentage” has problems with articles and sentence construction. The clause “While, the other districts population continuous…” is not a complete, correctly formed sentence, and the final sentence lacks a completed clause. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles, and complete sentence structures. A reliable pattern such as “Manhattan accounted for 76% of the total in 1800” would help you report data clearly.

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