Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-27

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 three tables illustrate changes in the population of New York city as a whole and the distribution of residents between Manhattan and other four districts from 1800 to 2000

Overall, New York city faced a dramatic increase in the population in the given time period.However, Manhattan, which had the vast majority of population in 1800, accounted for less than one fifth in 2000.

In 1800, New York half population of 79216 which rose enormously to 3,437,202 in 1900 ans it almost doubled in 2000. Manhattan in initially

contained 60515 residents containing 76 % of citiy's population .By 1900,it increased surprisingly to [redacted phone], but proportion fall to 54.

By 2000 , Manhattan's population had declined accounting for 19 percent of the total . As compared to it, other districts increased in the years 1800,1900 to 18,701 and [redacted phone] respectively. The share of these districts rose to 81 percent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall trends: the city’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19%. You also include relevant figures for Manhattan and the other districts. However, some key information is incomplete or unclear: the 2000 population of the other districts (6,471,089) is omitted, and the city’s 2000 total is described only as “almost doubled” rather than reported. “New York half population” also misrepresents the 1800 total, which was 79,216. The response is two words below the required minimum. To develop the summary more fully, report the main totals accurately and compare the changing populations and shares across all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs containing details. The overview usefully highlights the city’s growth and Manhattan’s declining share. However, progression is uneven, and some links between ideas are unclear. For example, “As compared to it” does not clearly identify the comparison, while the final sentence gives the other districts’ 1800 and 1900 populations but then jumps to their 2000 share without stating their 2000 population. The phrase “in the years 1800,1900” also makes the sequence difficult to follow. Organise the details chronologically or by district, and use clear linking phrases such as “By contrast” and “By 2000” to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some suitable task vocabulary, including “dramatic increase,” “accounted for,” “proportion,” and “declined,” which helps communicate the main trends. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning difficult to interpret. “New York half population” is not a natural way to describe the total, and “increased surprisingly” is an imprecise description of a numerical change. There are also spelling errors such as “ans” and “citiy's.” Aim for precise, conventional language for reporting data, and check spelling carefully. For example, use “the city’s total population” and “rose sharply” rather than the unclear or awkward phrases in the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the contrast introduced by “However” and the clause “which had the vast majority of population in 1800.” Nevertheless, grammatical errors are frequent, and some sentences are incomplete or difficult to understand. “In 1800, New York half population of 79216” lacks a clear verb, while “Manhattan in initially contained” has an incorrect sentence structure. In “its proportion fall to 54,” the verb form is incorrect, and several sentences have missing articles or punctuation spacing problems. Practise building complete subject–verb sentences and checking tense consistency. For instance: “In 1800, the city’s population was 79,216” and “Manhattan’s share fell to 54% by 1900.”

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