Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-31

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)

Overall, the tables demonstrates the change in population in different cities and districts in New York in three different centuries.The percentage estimates how much rise in population has taken place within these centuries.

Firstly, a comparison is made in population rate in years 1800,1900 and 2000 in New York city. In year 1800 the population was 79,216 and after a century there is a drastic increase in population which is 3,437,202.

Again in year 2000 there is a tremendous increase in population which is 8,009,185.

The next two tables describes the population increase and percentages as well in particular districts in New York city. Firstly we will discuss about the population rise in Manhattan and its percentage according to the total population rise. In 1800 the population was 60,515 which is 76% of the total population.

After a century the population is raised to 1,850,093 which is 54% of overall population. In 2000 a drop in population is noticed which is 1,538,096 and is 19% of total population.

Now, the next table evaluates population of different districts. In 1800 their population is 18,701 which is 24% of total population. In 1900 and 2000 population is 1,587,109 and 6,471,089 respectively which counts 46% and 81% of total population.

This summarize that population is being fluctuated in different centuries in New York city and its different districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You report the main figures for all three years and accurately identify Manhattan’s falling share, alongside the growth in the other districts’ share. However, the overview is vague: saying the population “fluctuated” does not clearly summarise the key contrast that the city’s total population rose sharply, while Manhattan’s population peaked in 1900 and then declined. The opening also inaccurately describes the tables as showing “different cities”; they concern New York City and its districts. The figures are generally relevant, but the response mostly lists them rather than selecting and comparing the most important trends. A clearer overview and more direct comparisons between the total, Manhattan, and the other districts would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a broadly sensible order: it introduces the tables, discusses the city total, then Manhattan and the other districts. Paragraph breaks also help separate these sections. However, progression is often mechanical, relying on repeated sequencing phrases such as “Firstly,” “After a century,” and “Now.” The final sentence does not effectively draw the main comparisons together, and “This summarize” is an unclear reference to the preceding information. Some links between figures are missing; for example, the rise in the other districts could be explicitly contrasted with Manhattan’s decline after 1900. Use a concise overview and connect related trends directly, rather than treating each table as a separate list.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic vocabulary to communicate the subject, including “population,” “percentage,” “total,” “increase,” and “drop.” There are also attempts at more varied wording, such as “drastic” and “tremendous.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural in this data-reporting context: “percentage estimates” does not describe what the table presents, and “population rate” is not the same as population. “Population rise” is repeated, while “fluctuated” inaccurately suggests repeated ups and downs rather than the clear overall trends. Aim for precise terms such as “population share,” “accounted for,” and “declined,” and avoid using dramatic adjectives where neutral reporting language is more appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and most of the figures remain understandable. However, errors in agreement and sentence construction recur. For example, “the tables demonstrates” should be “the tables demonstrate,” and “The next two tables describes” should be “describe.” The final sentence, “This summarize that population is being fluctuated,” has problems with the verb form and passive construction; a clearer version would be “This shows how the population changed across the districts.” Punctuation and spacing are also inconsistent, as in “centuries.The” and “1800,1900 and 2000.” Work on subject–verb agreement, complete sentence patterns, and accurate past-tense reporting to make the information easier to follow.

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