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 given table is elaborating the changes in the population of New York city inluding it all five districts from year 1800 to 2000. The table shows that the overall population of the new york city had increased massively from 1800 to 2000. In 1800 the population figures were 79216 which increased with a massive peak to [redacted phone] in 2000. While other two tables describe the percentage ratio of population by dividing into the five districts of city. Like the Manhatten disticrt was making up the 76% of the total population of city in 1800 but onlly 19% in the 2000. On te other hand remaining four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) shows the huge popultion percentage increase from 1800 to 2000. As shown in the tables these four disticts were making the 24% only of the total population but in 2000 its makes up the 81 % of the whole population of the city.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall change: New York City’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other four districts’ share grew. The figures you give for 1800 and 2000, including the 76% to 19% and 24% to 81% shifts, match the tables. However, the account is incomplete: it omits the 1900 figures, including the city’s population of 3,437,202 and Manhattan’s peak population of 1,850,093, followed by a decline by 2000. Also, saying the other districts had a “population percentage increase” does not clearly distinguish their rising share from their rising population. Include the middle year and describe the contrasting population trends more precisely to make the summary fuller.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a generally understandable order, moving from the citywide total to Manhattan and then the other districts. Linking phrases such as “On the other hand” help signal a contrast. However, the ideas are compressed into one paragraph, and the progression is not fully clear: the sentence beginning “While other two tables describe…” does not connect smoothly to the comparison that follows. Some references, such as “its” and “these four districts,” require the reader to infer what is meant. Organise the response into a brief introduction, an overview, and a paragraph of key comparisons, and use clear references such as “their combined share” to improve flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “overall population,” “percentage,” and “total population,” so the main comparisons are understandable. However, several word choices and spelling errors reduce precision and naturalness: “elaborating” is not suitable for introducing what a table presents, “massive peak” does not accurately describe the overall rise, and “percentage ratio” is awkward. There are also repeated misspellings, including “Manhatten,” “disticrt,” and “popultion.” Use standard data-reporting expressions and check spelling carefully; more precise terms would help distinguish population totals from proportions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “While” and a sentence beginning “As shown in the tables.” The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “the overall population … had increased” uses an unnecessary past perfect in this context, while “other two tables describe” is missing a determiner. In “these four districts were making the 24%,” the verb construction is awkward, and “its makes up” has incorrect subject–verb agreement. Sentence boundaries and punctuation also need attention. Practise accurate present and past forms for reporting figures, and check articles, agreement, and complete sentence structure.

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