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 first table compares New York City population between 1800 and 2000. While the second and third tables illutstrate the popuplation development in five different districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

Overall, New York City witnessed a drastic growth during the given period. During 200 years , the number of Manhatten residents fell significantly despite the increase of its population ; meanwhile , the participation of other districts in the growth of Yew York City population rose to nearly four times compared to the first year.

During two hundred years , New York City saw a steady growth in the number of residents, it climbed from 79.216 person to [redacted phone] residant. While the composition of the city changed during the given period.

Intially, about three quarter of population was from Manhattan and only one quarter from different districts (76% and 24 % respectively) .However ,this composition was reversed. Although the population of all districts rose drastically from 1800 to 2000 , Manhattan residents participation in the total popultion drop considerably and reached 19% while 81 % of population was from other districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall changes: the city’s population grew substantially, and Manhattan’s share fell while the other districts’ share rose. The percentages for 1800 and 2000 are accurately reported, and the overview recognises the shift in population distribution. However, some important detail is missing or unclear. The response does not report the 1900 figures, when Manhattan still had the largest population and accounted for 54% of the total, nor does it clearly explain that Manhattan’s population rose to 1,850,093 by 1900 before declining to 1,538,096 in 2000. The claim that its population increased sits awkwardly beside the later decline. Include the intermediate stage and distinguish population totals from percentage shares to make the summary more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to details about total population and district shares. This helps the reader identify the main topic. However, progression is weakened by repeated references to the same 200-year period and by abrupt transitions, particularly the shift from the city’s total growth to the district composition. Some linking is mechanical or unclear: “While the composition of the city changed” is left as a fragment, and “However, this composition was reversed” does not specify the comparison year. The overview also combines several ideas in a long sentence. Organise the details chronologically, using one paragraph for total population and another for the changing district shares, and make each comparison explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a suitable range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “drastic growth,” “fell significantly,” “rose,” and “reversed.” These choices communicate the broad changes, but several spelling errors and imprecise or unnatural expressions reduce control: “illutstrate,” “popuplation,” “Manhatten,” and “Yew York” are examples. Phrases such as “participation of other districts in the growth” and “Manhattan residents participation” are not natural ways to describe population shares. “Steady growth” is also not fully supported by the three data points, which show a large rise overall rather than a consistently measured trend. Use accurate terms such as “population share,” “accounted for,” and “increased overall,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and more complex forms, including a contrast with “While” and a concession beginning “Although.” The main trends are generally understandable, but some sentence structures and punctuation need more control. “While the second and third tables illustrate…” is a dependent clause without a main clause, and “During two hundred years, New York City saw a steady growth…, it climbed…” joins two independent clauses with only a comma. There are also errors in agreement and verb form, as in “Manhattan residents participation… drop” and “reached 19% while 81% of population was.” Improve accuracy by completing dependent clauses, separating or linking independent clauses correctly, and checking subject–verb agreement and article use.

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