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)

The three tables give information on the demographic change in New York City. Among the three tables, first one shows total population alteration from year 1800 to 2000. Moreover, the second and third tables show population changes in the five different districts of the city for the same years 1800 to 2000

Overall, the first table shows the highest population increase of all five districts in the year 2000. Futhermore, the second table shows in Manhattan accounted for highest population of the New York is shown in the year 1800. However, other four districts made the highest populance in the year 2000

Thus, an overall population rise of all five districts of New York is about 8,009,185. In year 1800, Manhathan accounted for 76% ot total populance, while other districts made 24%. However, these districts made major portion at 81% in year 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, including Manhattan’s 76% share in 1800 and the other districts’ 81% share in 2000. However, the response only partially reports the main features: it omits the total population figures for 1900 and 2000 as a comparison, and does not explain that Manhattan’s population rose to 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 in 2000. The statement that the first table shows the “highest population increase of all five districts” is unclear and does not accurately describe what the table compares. The overview is also limited and partly repetitive. Finally, the response is 143 words, below the required 150. Add accurate key figures and a clearer summary of the contrasting trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure: an introduction, an attempted overview, and a final paragraph with figures. This gives the reader some sense of organisation, and words such as “Moreover” and “However” signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is not consistently clear. The overview repeats the contrast later stated in the final paragraph, while the phrase “the first table shows the highest population increase of all five districts” is difficult to follow. Some linking words are used mechanically or do not clearly connect the ideas. Improve cohesion by grouping the overall population trend separately from the district comparison, and use clear references such as “Manhattan” and “the other four districts” rather than vague references like “these districts.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “demographic change,” “population,” “districts,” and “accounted for,” so the subject is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate or unnatural choices make parts of the report difficult to interpret. “Population alteration” is not a natural way to describe a change in population, and “highest populance” appears to confuse population size with a share of the total. There are also spelling errors, including “Futhermore,” “Manhathan,” and “ot.” Aim for precise, conventional data-reporting language and check spelling carefully. For example, distinguish a district’s population from its percentage of the city total, and use verbs such as “rose,” “fell,” and “accounted for” accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a few complex sentence forms, particularly with “while” and “However,” but most sentences rely on simple patterns, and errors are frequent enough to affect clarity. For example, “the second and third tables show population changes … for the same years 1800 to 2000” has an awkward and incomplete time expression; “Manhattan accounted for highest population … is shown” combines incompatible sentence structures; and “In year 1800” is missing an article. The opening also lacks a final full stop, and punctuation is inconsistent. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check articles, sentence boundaries, and clause structure. A more controlled pattern would be: “In 1800, Manhattan accounted for 76% of the city’s population.”

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.