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 given tables illustrates the population of the New York city including manhattan and other districts.

Overall, the population of of New York city increased significantly over the given period. Although manhattan had the largest share of the population but the population decreased in last two years and the population increased in other districts.

In 1800 the population of the New York city was 79,216, out of which 76% lived in manhattan and remaining were lived in other districts. In 1900 the population of the city were increased to 3,437,202. However the manhattan percentage of population were decreased by 22% but the the percentage were increased in other five districts by 22%.

In 2000 the population of the city was increased to 8,009,185 and the manhattan population was decreased to 1,538,096. Although the population were increased in other districts to 6,471,089

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main overall rise in New York City’s population and the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts. The figures for the city total and the 2000 populations are accurate, and the overview recognises that Manhattan’s share fell while the other districts’ share grew. However, the account is incomplete: it does not give Manhattan’s 1900 population or the 2000 shares, and the comparison that Manhattan remained the largest group is not true by 2000. The phrase “last two years” is also unclear for data given at 100-year intervals. The response is 141 words, below the required 150, so it needs further relevant detail to meet the task fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction and overview to figures for 1800, 1900 and 2000. This chronological order helps the reader follow the data, and linking words such as “Overall,” “However” and “Although” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, progression is limited because the overview and body repeat the same general trends without developing a clear comparison between Manhattan and the other districts. Some links are awkward or incomplete: “Although Manhattan had the largest share … but” combines two contrasting structures, while the final sentence beginning “Although” has no main clause. Use separate, complete sentences and organise the body around the changing shares and populations to make the relationships clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant basic terms such as “population,” “share,” “increased” and “decreased,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, the vocabulary is repetitive, and some expressions are imprecise or unnatural for describing table data. For example, “the population of the city were increased” and “the percentage were increased” do not express the trends idiomatically; “rose” or “accounted for” would be more suitable. “Last two years” is also an inaccurate description of the intervals shown. Aim for a wider set of precise reporting verbs and comparison phrases, while checking collocations and avoiding repeated use of “population” in every clause.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some complex sentences, including “Although Manhattan had the largest share …” and “In 1800 …, out of which …,” but these structures are often faulty. There are frequent agreement and verb-form errors, such as “tables illustrates,” “the population … were increased,” and “the population of the city were.” The sentence “Although the population were increased in other districts to 6,471,089” is incomplete because it lacks a main clause. Articles, capitalization and punctuation also need attention, as in “the New York city” and the repeated “the the.” These errors sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. Practise accurate simple comparisons first, then add subordinate clauses only when you can complete and control them.

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