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 first table illustrate that population changes between 1800 and 2000 in New york city. The second and third tables illustrate that population change of the five districts of New york city over the same period.Overall, Manhattan is more popular in 18th century. Furthermore, 20th century new york city population majority live in outside manhattan.

In the Manhattat, 18th century one third of population live in Manhattan. 19th century Manhattan population grow almost two million. In 2000, population dropped around 30000. Furthermore, people live New york city more popular and majurity live in outside in Manhattan.

On the other districts, 18th century small number of people live in those districts only 24 percentage. But time change outside Manhattan become more popular. In 20th century total population in New york city over 8 million. Outside Manhattan such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island 81 percentage of New york city total population lived. And only 19 percentage of New york city total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad shift from Manhattan’s dominance in 1800 to the other districts’ much larger share by 2000, and you include the key 81% and 19% figures. However, several details are inaccurate or unclear: Manhattan held 76%, not “one third,” of the city’s population in 1800. Its population rose to about 1.85 million in 1900, then fell by roughly 312,000 by 2000, rather than dropping “around 30000.” The response also omits the city’s overall growth from 79,216 to over 8 million and gives little comparison of the 1900 shares. To strengthen the summary, select the main changes accurately and explain the contrast across all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for Manhattan and the other districts. This gives the reader some sense of organisation. However, progression is uneven: the overview repeats ideas later, and the Manhattan paragraph moves between population growth and the city’s wider population without a clear sequence. Connectors such as “Furthermore” and “But” are used mechanically, while “On the other districts” does not clearly signal the comparison. Some references, including “those districts” and “only 19 percentage,” are incomplete or unclear. Grouping the information by year or by the contrasting trends, then using precise links such as “by contrast” and “whereas,” would make the account easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “population,” “percentage,” “dropped,” and “outside Manhattan,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are repeated or imprecise. “More popular” is not suitable for describing population size, and “people live New York city more popular” does not communicate a clear comparison. “Small number” is vague when the table provides exact proportions, while “time change” is not a natural way to describe a trend. There are also spelling and word-form errors, such as “Manhattat,” “majurity,” and “New york.” Use precise terms for population shares and changes, and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

Most sentences use simple structures, and you attempt some longer forms with “Furthermore” and “But.” However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships difficult to understand. For example, “The first table illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, while “population grow” and “population dropped” do not maintain appropriate tense forms. Articles and sentence structure are also problematic in “In the Manhattat, 18th century one third of population live in Manhattan.” The final sentence, “And only 19 percentage of New york city total population,” is a fragment without a verb. Practise complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, consistent past tense, and accurate articles and punctuation.

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