Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-29

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 shows the change in population of New York City and its five district over the years from 1800 to 2000

firstly we look at the table no 1 it shows a major amount of population has been increase over these years. As shown in the table the population was only 79216 in 1800 but as time passes over the centuray it had been gradually increase for about [redacted phone] which is nearly the double od the population

furthermore, In 2000 year it shows drastic change in population and it went from double to over fourth time more of population which is [redacted phone]. This includes all the five districts of new york city

now moving to the next table which illustrates all the five districts of new york city with its individual population range,

Manhattan has the most population with 76% in the year 1800 and then shows a sudden decline to 54% to 19% of its population in 1900 to 2000 while other districts has lower % of about 24% and it gradually increases to 46% and the 81% over the years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad rise in New York’s total population and the contrasting shift in population shares: Manhattan’s proportion falls while the other districts’ share grows. These are relevant main features, and the figures you give for the total and percentages match the tables. However, the account is only partly developed. The overview is not clearly separated, and the comparison of district populations is limited to percentages; it omits that Manhattan’s population itself rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096, while the other districts grew substantially. The description of the total increase is also imprecise: 2000’s figure is more than twice the 1900 total, not “over fourth time more.” Select and explain these key comparisons more accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a broadly sensible order, moving from the citywide figures to the district comparison, and signposts such as “furthermore” and “now moving to” help indicate the shift. However, the progression is not consistently clear because the response is presented as one continuous block, with no distinct overview or paragraphing to separate the main features. Some linking is mechanical, and the long final sentence combines several changes without making the time comparisons easy to follow. References such as “it” and “its” are also not always precise. Organise the response into a short introduction, an overview, and focused detail paragraphs, and use clearer links between the figures for each period.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “population,” “decline,” “increases,” and “districts,” so the topic remains understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which makes parts of the report awkward: “a major amount of population,” “gradually increase,” and “over fourth time more of population” do not express the comparisons naturally. There are also spelling errors such as “centuray” and “od.” Aim for precise data-reporting language and check spelling. For example, describe a population as “rose substantially,” a share as “fell,” and a figure as “more than double” another figure.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, and the reader can generally follow the main message. However, control is inconsistent, particularly in longer sentences. Examples include “the population has been increase,” where the verb form is faulty, and “other districts has lower %,” where subject–verb agreement is incorrect. The sentence beginning “Manhattan has the most population” also joins several time changes without a clear grammatical structure. Articles, plurals, and punctuation are often missing or inconsistent, as in the opening sentence and the run-on presentation of the response. Use shorter, complete sentences when comparing years, and check verb forms and agreement—for example, “the population increased” and “the other districts had a lower share.”

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