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)

Among those three given tables, the first table illustrate the change of total population of the five districs of New York City between 1800 and 2000, where the second and thrid tables broadly discribes the change of population in these districs, in percent.

In 1800, the New York City's total population was 79,216, where Manhattan contributed the most (76%) and the rest 24% population was cntributed by the other four districts. After that century, though the total population of the New York City increased, the percentage of the Manhattan districts decreased to 54% and it decreased more and came to 19% by the 2000.

On the other hand, the other four districs of New York City, showed a exponential increase in the percentage of total population between 1900 in 2000 (from 46% to 81%)

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, and correctly report the total population in 1800 and the changing shares: Manhattan falls from 76% to 54% and then 19%, while the other districts rise to 81% by 2000. However, the response only partially covers the tables: it omits the total figures for 1900 and 2000, and gives no population counts for the districts. The overview is also limited, with no clear summary of the overall population growth or the fact that Manhattan’s population itself peaked in 1900 before declining. The response is 16 words below the required minimum, which contributes to the underdevelopment. Add a concise overview and select key figures from all three years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence from the 1800 figures to the later changes, and the contrast introduced by “On the other hand” helps distinguish Manhattan from the other districts. However, the organisation is not fully clear: the opening refers to “three given tables” and describes the second and third as separate tables, although the information is presented as two visuals, and the final paragraph ends without a concluding overview. Some linking is mechanical, particularly “After that century” and “On the other hand,” while the long opening sentence carries several ideas at once. Use a clear introduction, an overview, and one or two detail paragraphs, with references that make the comparisons easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant task vocabulary, including “total population,” “percentage,” “contributed,” and “increased,” so the main comparisons are generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, form, and spelling problems reduce precision: “the Manhattan districts” is inaccurate, “showed a exponential increase” is an awkward collocation, and “discribes,” “districs,” and “cntributed” are misspelled. “The rest 24% population” is also not natural phrasing. Aim for accurate terms such as “share of the city’s population,” “the remaining districts,” and “rose substantially.” Proofreading spelling and choosing standard collocations would make the report clearer and more appropriate for an academic summary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, for example the sentence beginning “In 1800” and the clause introduced by “though.” The main meaning is usually recoverable, but control is uneven. In “the first table illustrate,” the singular subject requires “illustrates”; “the second and thrid tables broadly discribes” also has subject–verb agreement problems. The phrase “between 1900 in 2000” uses the wrong preposition, and the final sentence lacks a full stop. There are also awkward sentence patterns, such as “it decreased more and came to 19%,” which obscure the comparison. Practise accurate agreement, articles, and comparative clauses, then check each sentence for a complete and correctly punctuated structure.

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