Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-02

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)

Three tables shows the comprasion of population between the districtis of newyork city from 1800 to 2000. Population in all teh five districts of new york city increased 10 times from 1800 to 2000.

Manhattan which is biggest district its population was huge in 1800s with the 76% of the total Newyork population with in 1900s decresed to 54 % and in in 2000s in further dropped to 19 % of citiy's population. though numbers of this district increased but when it compares to the total population of city it dropped badly.

While Manhattns's pouplation dropped , other five districts population shows the ladder going up not just in numbers but also in percentage. Brooklyn. Bronx, Queens and Staten Island has 24% of population which increased to million which make 46% of total Newyork population. In 200s it increased 5 times and make it 81 % of the Newyork population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the broad pattern that New York City grew and that Manhattan’s share declined while the other districts’ share rose. The percentages you give for Manhattan (76%, 54% and 19%) are accurate, as are the combined districts’ starting and ending shares. However, the overview is weakened by saying the city’s population increased “10 times”: it rose from 79,216 to 8,009,185, or roughly 100 times. You also say Manhattan’s population increased, although it rose to 1,850,093 by 1900 and then fell to 1,538,096 by 2000. The combined districts’ figures are not clearly reported, and “increased 5 times” is inaccurate for their change from 1900 to 2000. Select and compare the main figures more precisely, including the city’s total at each stage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic progression: it introduces the tables, discusses Manhattan, and then contrasts it with the other districts. The contrast signalled by “While” helps connect the final paragraph to the previous one. However, the opening does not establish a clear, accurate overview, and the body’s progression is difficult to follow because several comparisons are compressed into long sentences. For example, the sentence beginning “Manhattan which is biggest district” combines its historical share, population change and comparison with the city total without clear separation. The final paragraph also shifts between the four districts collectively, their population in 1900 and their 2000 share. Use clearer paragraph purposes and link each comparison to a specific year.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt some task-relevant language, including “total population,” “percentage,” “dropped” and “increased,” and the reader can generally identify the intended comparisons. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or informal, such as “the ladder going up,” “dropped badly” and “make it 81%.” Spelling errors—including “comprasion,” “districtis” and “pouplation”—are frequent enough to distract and sometimes slow understanding. Some phrases are also imprecise: “increased to million” does not state a clear figure, and “increased 5 times” is not a reliable description of the data. Practise accurate spelling and use standard reporting expressions such as “accounted for,” “rose to” and “declined to.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “While” and a clause beginning “though.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors frequently affect clarity. Examples include “Three tables shows,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “Manhattan which is biggest district,” which lacks appropriate article and punctuation. The sentence about Manhattan’s share contains a confusing sequence of time references (“with in 1900s… and in in 2000s”), while “Brooklyn. Bronx, Queens and Staten Island has” has faulty punctuation and subject–verb agreement. Tense and sentence boundaries also need attention. Build accuracy first with clear past-tense comparisons, then combine clauses using correct agreement, articles and punctuation.

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