Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-26

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 show the population of the New York City and the population of the Manhattan and the other four district 1800, 1900, 2000.

Overall, the population of the New York City increased the over the period.Manhattan total population decreased and the other districts in incraesed

In 1800, New York City had atotal population of 79,216 and 60,515 people lived in manhattan represent 76% of the total. The other districts had a combined population of 18701 accounting for 24%.

By 1900, the citys population has to 3,437,202. Manhattan population increased dramatically to 1,850,096 although its share to 54%.The other districts contained 1,587,109 people or 46%.In 2000, the overall population reached 8,009,185

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s population and compare Manhattan’s share with that of the other districts in 1800 and 1900. However, the report is only partial: it stops after giving the city’s 2000 total and omits the key 2000 district figures, including Manhattan’s fall to 1,538,096 (19%) and the other districts’ rise to 6,471,089 (81%). The overview also says Manhattan’s “total population decreased,” which is true only from 1900 to 2000; it had grown substantially since 1800. The 1900 Manhattan figure is slightly inaccurate. The response is 111 words, below the required 150, so the main features are not sufficiently reported or developed. Include the missing final comparison and clarify the period covered by each trend.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, useful structure: an introduction, an overview, and chronological details for 1800 and 1900. This helps the reader follow the information, and phrases such as “By 1900” and “In 1800” signal time clearly. However, the progression is incomplete because the final paragraph introduces 2000 but gives no district comparison or concluding detail. Some links between ideas are also awkward or missing, particularly in the overview and the transition into the 1900 figures. Improve cohesion by completing the chronological sequence and using clear contrast markers, such as “whereas” or “by contrast,” to compare Manhattan with the other districts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing population data, including “total population,” “combined population,” “accounting for,” and “increased dramatically.” These choices show an attempt to vary the language rather than simply repeat “population.” However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling or word-choice errors reduce clarity, such as “incraesed,” “district” where the plural is needed, and “its share to 54%.” Some phrasing is also imprecise: “Manhattan total population decreased” does not specify the period, and “the other districts in increased” is not a clear expression. Use accurate terms such as “population share” and “accounted for,” and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates some basic comparisons through simple sentences and attempts a more complex structure in “Manhattan population increased dramatically … although its share to 54%.” However, the range of sentence forms is limited, and frequent errors affect accuracy. Examples include “The table show,” “the population of the New York City,” “the citys population has to,” and the incomplete construction “although its share to 54%.” Missing spaces after full stops and inconsistent sentence punctuation also make the text harder to read. Practise forming complete clauses with accurate verb forms—for example, “Manhattan’s population rose, although its share fell to 54%”—and check articles, agreement, possessives, and punctuation.

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