Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-31

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 changes in the total population of New York city from 1800 to 2000. The other two tables show changes in the population of the five districts of the City over the same period.

Overall, from 1800 to 2000, there was no decrease in total population in fact, it increased rapidly. The contribution of Manhattan dropped whereas, other districts contribution rose.

To begin with, in 1800 the total population of New York City was 79,216 of which 60,515 (76%) had contributed from the single city Manhattan and 18,701 (24%) from other districts like Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island. After one decade in 1900, the total population of New York city had boasted which was approximately 3.4 million of which 54% accounted by Manhattan and 46% other cities.

In 2000, the total population of New York city was 8 million from which around 19% provided by Manhattan which had dropped steadily. However, the contribution of other districts rose around 81% of total population contributed by them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in the proportion of residents living in Manhattan versus other districts. However, the response lacks sufficient detail regarding the specific data for the five individual districts mentioned in the prompt. While you mention 'other districts' as a group, you do not provide enough comparative data for the specific boroughs (e.g., the growth of Brooklyn or Queens). To reach a higher band, ensure you select and report more specific data points from the tables to support your summary, rather than grouping all non-Manhattan districts together throughout the entire report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'However,' and 'In 2000' to link your ideas. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is more precise. At times, the transition between the general population trends and the specific district data feels slightly mechanical. Increasing the variety of cohesive devices will help improve the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'contributed,' 'accounted for,' and 'steadily.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'total population... had boasted' is an incorrect usage of 'boasted' in this context; 'surged' or 'increased significantly' would be more appropriate. Additionally, referring to the boroughs as 'other cities' is inaccurate, as they are districts of New York City. Expanding your range of academic vocabulary and focusing on precise collocations will help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is generally effective for conveying information. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'of which 60,515 (76%) had contributed from the single city Manhattan,' which is awkward and slightly inaccurate in its passive construction. Another example is 'around 19% provided by Manhattan,' which lacks a verb. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice will improve your accuracy.

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