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 first table illustrates the difference in the total population of New York City between 1800 to 2000. And other tables demonstrates the changes in the population of the five districts of the city ( Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.
Overall, New York City was the city which population is increasing year by year. In 1800, the population of New York City population was 79,216 and in 1900 it was increased to 3,437,202. In 2000, it was increased to 8,009,185. Which was the major increase in population.
New York City's population is increasing year by year. In 1800, the population of Manhattan was 60,515(76%) and then it was increased in 1900 to 1,850,093(54%). And then there was a sudden drop in the population of Manhattan in 2000 it was decreased to 1,538,096(19%). Which was a major drop in population.
Other districts, (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) population was also increasing year by year. In 1800, the population was 18,701(24%). In 1900, it was increased to 1,587,109(46%) and then it was increased to 6,471,089(81%) in 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall growth of New York City and the shifting population proportions among the districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you correctly identify the growth trends, the report lacks a more sophisticated comparison between the districts. For instance, you group four districts together, which obscures the individual performance of areas like Brooklyn or Queens. To reach a higher band, ensure you highlight key differences or specific trends for each district rather than just stating they all increased. The overview is present but could be more concise and integrated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. You frequently start sentences with 'In 1800' or 'In 1900', which creates a predictable and slightly disjointed flow. Additionally, the use of 'Which was...' as a sentence fragment is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the cohesion of your ideas. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your sentences more fluidly, and ensure that your sentences are complete rather than relying on fragments.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely heavily on basic verbs like 'increased' and 'decreased' throughout the text. While these are accurate, using synonyms would demonstrate a better range. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'the city which population is increasing', which should be 'whose population'. To improve, incorporate more academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'surged', 'plummeted', or 'accounted for', and ensure you are using relative pronouns correctly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. For example, 'And other tables demonstrates' contains a subject-verb agreement error, and 'Which was the major increase' is a sentence fragment. There are also issues with article usage and tense consistency. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and main verb.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.