Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-29

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 6.5)

The given table compares the population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. While the other table illustrates the changes in population between Manhattan and four other cities (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island).

Overall, the population seems to be increasing over the period of time.

In early 1800, the population of New York was 79,216, and about 76% of the total population lived in Manhattan, while only 24% lived on other four districts. Similarly, in 1900 the population of New York increased from 79,216 to 3,437,202. And about 54 % of the population were still living in Manhattan and 46% in other districts.

However, in the 2000s the population reached over 8 million and about 1.5 million people were living in Manhattan and near 6.5 million people were living in other four districts. Thos showed that only 19 % of the population were living in Manhattan, which was the lowest among the three centuries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the data, including the total population growth and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat limited. While you correctly identify the 1800, 1900, and 2000 data points, the report lacks a more nuanced comparison of the intermediate trends or the specific growth rates of the individual districts mentioned in the prompt. The overview is present but could be more detailed by highlighting the significant demographic shift from Manhattan-centric to a more distributed population. The data is generally accurate, though the phrasing 'other four districts' is slightly repetitive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, moving chronologically through the centuries. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. For instance, the second sentence is a fragment ('While the other table...'), which disrupts the flow. Additionally, the transition between the 1900 data and the 2000 data could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the specific data points, which helps the reader follow the structure of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'illustrates,' 'total population,' and 'demographic distribution' (implied). However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'In early 1800' (should be 'In the early 1800s') and 'Thos showed' (a spelling error for 'This'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the sophistication or variety required for a higher band score. To improve, try to incorporate more precise reporting verbs and synonyms for 'increase' or 'living in'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as the sentence fragment in the introduction and the incorrect use of 'other four districts' (should be 'the other four districts'). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are generally acceptable, but the errors present occasionally distract the reader. The punctuation is mostly correct, but the sentence structure could be more varied to demonstrate better control over complex grammatical forms.

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