Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-01

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 first table illustrate the total population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. While the second and third tables provide the information on population change of five districts over the same period.

Overall, the total population of New York City have shown a steady increase between 1800 and 2000. Whereas the total population of that five district shown steady rise and some shown little fluctuation.

In New York City, the population in 1900 was almost four times population in 1800. In 2000, the total population was more than two times the population in 1900.

However, among the five cities, Manhattan showed fluctuation in their population and their proportion, from 1800 to 1900 the population rose and then from 1900 to 2000 the population declined, while the proportion of the population of other four districts shown surge increase.

Finally, both the table depict the increase in population between 1800 and 2000, except the district Manhattan which shown slight fluctuaction, nevertheless the final population increased in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the broad pattern of strong overall growth and the contrasting change in Manhattan, which are relevant features of the tables. You also note that Manhattan’s population rose to 1900 and then fell, while the other districts’ share increased. However, some key comparisons are unclear or inaccurate: the city’s population in 1900 was about 43 times its 1800 level, not almost four times, and Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19%, a major change that deserves clearer emphasis. The overview also says district populations showed a steady rise, although Manhattan declined after 1900. To strengthen the response, report the main figures accurately and distinguish the total city trend from the contrasting district trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to comparisons and a concluding statement. Linking words such as “Overall,” “However,” and “Finally” help signal stages in the discussion. However, progression is not always clear: the third paragraph gives a comparison of the city total, then the next shifts to district shares without a clear grouping of the most important data. Some connections are also awkward or repetitive, and “both the table” does not make clear which tables are being referenced. Organise the body around the overall city figures and then the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, using precise references so the reader can follow each comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “total population,” “proportion,” “declined,” and “fluctuation,” and the intended meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more descriptive language, such as “surge increase,” though this combination is not natural. Several word-choice, form, and spelling problems reduce precision: “five cities” should refer to districts, “shown steady rise” is not an appropriate phrase, and “fluctuaction” is misspelled. Repeated use of “population” and “increase” also limits variety. Build a more accurate set of trend expressions, such as “accounted for,” “rose sharply,” and “fell substantially,” and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “While” and a longer sentence describing Manhattan’s two-stage trend. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, with errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “The first table illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “the total population … have shown” should use a singular verb. “Whereas the total population of that five district shown…” is not a complete, well-formed clause, and “which shown” appears again in the final sentence. These errors sometimes make relationships between ideas harder to follow. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and complete clause structures, while retaining the complex comparisons you are attempting.

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