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 illustrates the changes in the total population of New York City for 200 years over the period between ([redacted phone]), The other two tables illustrating the total number of population beside the percentage of this number compared to the whole population in Manhattan and other districts as (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island).

Firstly, the total population in wholw new York City showed aconstant increase in the number of the total population more than the double over the 200 years, starting from 79,216 person in year 1800 to 3,437,202 person in year 1900 and reaching the maximum in 2000 with 8,09,185 person.

Secondely, a significant decrease noticed in the percentage of population in Manhattan compared to the whole population, as it dropped from 76% in 1800 to 19% by the 2000. On the other hand a significant increase in the other districts regarding the percetage of population in relation to the whole population from 24% in 1800 to 81% in 2000.

To sum up, the Increase of the New York City population is directly and positivly correlated with the increase of the population in the other districts mentioned before but Manhatan, and negativly correlated with the growth population in Manhattan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, and include several relevant figures, such as Manhattan’s 76% share in 1800 and the other districts’ 81% share in 2000. However, the account only partly reports the main features: it omits Manhattan’s population decline from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000, and does not give the other districts’ population totals. The overall city population is also misreported as “8,09,185” rather than 8,009,185, and describing the rise as “more than the double” understates the scale. The final correlation claim is not clearly supported by the figures. Include a concise overview and accurately compare both population totals and shares.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable sequence: an introduction, two paragraphs beginning “Firstly” and “Secondely,” and a concluding summary. This gives the reader a basic route through the information, and the contrast signalled by “On the other hand” is relevant. However, the organisation is not fully effective because the overview is left until the conclusion, and the final sentence introduces a broad correlation claim rather than clearly summarising the key trends. Some links are mechanical, while the long opening sentence combines several details without a clear structure. Grouping the figures by year or by Manhattan versus the other districts, and placing the main overview immediately after the introduction, would make the progression clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “percentage,” “significant decrease,” “increase,” and “compared to,” which helps communicate the main contrast. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “total number of population,” “maximum” for the 2000 figure, and “growth population.” Spelling errors—including “wholw,” “Secondely,” “percetage,” “Manhatan,” and “positivly”—also make the writing less precise. Aim for standard data-reporting phrases and check spelling carefully; for example, use “population total,” “reached a peak,” and “population growth.” More precise vocabulary would help distinguish changes in population numbers from changes in percentage shares.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer structures, including “as it dropped from 76% in 1800 to 19% by the 2000,” and uses time references to organise the data. However, the range is limited, and complex sentences are often faulty. For example, “The other two tables illustrating…” is a fragment, while “a significant decrease noticed” is missing a finite verb. There are also errors in articles and number forms, as in “by the 2000” and “79,216 person,” and punctuation problems, including the comma splice after the opening sentence and inconsistent capitalisation. Use complete subject–verb clauses, check singular and plural forms, and separate sentences cleanly. These changes would make the data easier to follow.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.