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 data is divided into three different tables. The first table contains the population of New York City with all five districts over the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. The second table displays the same data for a district in New York City called Manhattan alongside another column which shows the population corresponding to the year as a percentage of the total population. Lastly, the third table displays the same data with the new column, for the other remaining four districts.

Overall, Manhattan contributes significantly to New York's population in the first two centuries, while the other four districts share a significant amount of New York's population in 2000.

Comparing the two district graphs Manhattan had 60,515 people in 1800, which was 76% of the whole population living in New York at that time. Then in 1900 Manhattan had 54% of the 3.4 million people living in New York. However, in 2000 population shifted to the other four districts resulting in a drastic jump from 46% to 81%.

In conclusion, Manhattan contributed more in the first two centuries, but population shifted to the other four districts in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response provides a basic overview of the data, but it fails to adequately report on the specific population figures for the five individual districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island). While the prompt asks for a summary of the tables, the student focuses almost exclusively on Manhattan and the aggregate 'other four districts' category. By grouping these four distinct areas together, the response misses key trends and comparisons required by the task. The main features are identified, but the lack of detail regarding the individual districts results in an under-developed response that does not fully address all parts of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, body paragraph, and conclusion. The use of paragraphing is appropriate. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, the transition between the introduction and the body is abrupt. While the progression of ideas is generally clear, the lack of specific data points for the individual districts makes the comparison feel thin. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the data points more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. The student uses basic terms like 'data', 'table', and 'population' repeatedly. There is an attempt to use some descriptive language, such as 'drastic jump', but the overall lexical range is limited. To improve, the student should incorporate more varied vocabulary related to trends and statistics, such as 'fluctuated', 'accounted for', 'proportion', and 'significant growth', rather than relying on simple sentence structures and repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and communication is not impeded, there are some minor errors and awkward phrasings. For instance, 'population shifted to the other four districts' lacks an article, and the sentence structure in the overview is slightly clunky. The control of punctuation is generally good, but the range of complex structures is limited. To reach a higher band, the student should aim to use a greater variety of subordinate clauses and more sophisticated grammatical structures with greater consistency.

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