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 provide data about the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. While the second and third tables provide key insights about changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

New York is considered as one of the most liveable city according to forbes magnazine. It is also know as City of Dreams. In 1800, population of New York was around 80 thousand which by year 2000 increase 10 times around 8,009,185.

Manhattan is the most famous area of New York headquarters to Companies like Jp Morgan, United Nations. In 1800, Manhattan population occupied nearly 76% of total population in 1800 which eventually with time decrease to 19% by 2000 as other districts were being developed.

Apart from Manhattan downtown, we have 5 major districts like Brooklyn etc wherein 1800 population was not as much just 24% of total population however since the population increses, and it become difficult to accomodate population in Manhattan, people were shifted to other districts of New York city as table provide data so by 2000, 81% of total population was living in these districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast: Manhattan’s share falls from 76% to 19%, while the other districts’ share rises from 24% to 81%. You also report the city’s population at about 80,000 in 1800 and give the 2000 total accurately. However, the response does not clearly summarise the full pattern: the total population rose substantially by 1900 as well, and Manhattan’s population increased to 1,850,093 before declining to 1,538,096. The claim that people moved because Manhattan could not accommodate them is not shown by the tables, and the opening comments about Forbes and the “City of Dreams” are irrelevant. Focus on the data and give a concise overview of the key changes across all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has separate paragraphs for the introduction, total population, Manhattan, and the other districts, so the reader can identify the broad topics. Some linking is attempted with “While,” “however,” and “Apart from.” However, the opening sentence is incomplete in its relationship to the first clause, and the paragraphs do not build a clear overview before moving into details. The final paragraph is long and combines several ideas, including an unsupported explanation about people shifting districts. Repeated references to “1800” and “by 2000” also make progression feel mechanical. Organise the response around an overview followed by grouped comparisons, and use clear references to the figures rather than adding a speculative narrative.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant terms for describing data, including “total population,” “occupied,” “decrease,” and “districts,” and the main comparisons remain understandable. However, the vocabulary is sometimes imprecise or informal for an academic report. “Key insights” is vague, “population occupied nearly 76%” is an awkward collocation, and “people were shifted” presents an unsupported interpretation. There are also spelling errors such as “magnazine,” “increses,” and “accomodate,” alongside inconsistent capitalisation of “New York city.” Choose precise reporting language and check spelling carefully. For example, describe a district’s “share of the total population” and say that its proportion “fell” or “rose,” rather than implying a cause not shown in the tables.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentence forms, including the opening contrast with “While” and the final sentence beginning “Apart from Manhattan downtown.” However, these structures are not consistently controlled, and several errors affect clarity. “The first table provide” needs subject–verb agreement, while “which by year 2000 increase” has an incorrect verb form and tense. The opening “While” clause is not properly connected to a main clause. Articles and sentence construction are also problematic in phrases such as “Manhattan population” and “headquarters to Companies.” Use straightforward, complete sentences to report each comparison, and check agreement, articles, and past-tense forms. Greater control of these basic patterns would make the information easier to follow.

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