Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-30

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 tables presents the changes

in population in New york city and its districts throughout the period between 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the first table give a big picture of how population number in New York had changed overtime in the 19th to the 21th century, while the next two tables focused more on the population numbers in the 5 districts themselves.

Starting with first table, which clearly shows that the population number in New York including its 5 districts has significantly increased from the 19th century to the 20th by about 3 millions and 350 thousands people and it doubled with the 21th century which reached an 8 million people living in New York by the year 2000.

Moving to New York districts, and beginning with Manhattan who had 76% of the total population back in 1800s, which then faced an elevation of people living in it with a clear jump in numbers between the 19th and 20th centuries, then a slight decrease in 2000. But its important to notice the decline in the percentage of total population compared to the other districts.

While other districts naming Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, had escalation in population in the same period which eventually occupied most of New York population by the 21th century with 81% of total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall population growth and the shift in distribution among the five districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. For instance, the description of the population increase is slightly inaccurate in its phrasing, and the comparison between the 19th and 20th centuries lacks precision regarding the specific data points provided in the tables. While the main trends are identified, the response would benefit from a more detailed breakdown of the specific population figures for each district to better support the generalisations made. The overview is present but could be more clearly integrated to highlight the most significant shifts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Starting with', 'Moving to', and 'While', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, although the connection between the first table and the subsequent district tables could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response, and the information is sequenced in a way that makes sense, moving from the general city-wide data to the specific district-level trends.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe trends such as 'significantly increased', 'slight decrease', and 'escalation'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the tables presents' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'the 21th century' (incorrect ordinal form). The use of 'naming' to introduce the list of districts is also slightly unnatural. To reach a higher band, the student should aim for more precise terminology and ensure that word forms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The tables presents', 'the first table give'), incorrect preposition usage ('between 1800 to 2000'), and punctuation errors ('But its important'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not generally impede communication. The student attempts to use complex structures, but control is inconsistent. Improving the accuracy of basic grammatical rules and ensuring consistent verb tense usage would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.

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