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 tables below demonstrates the differences in the overall population of New York city from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, all five districts were distinctively categorized by percentage, with Manhattan topping the chart in 1800 and decreased in 2000. However other districts made up the majority in 2000 and was not high in the 1800.

The population climbed in New York City as the years went by, with a total number of 8,009,185 in 2000 and other districts having the greater percentage by 81 whereas Manhattan contributed 19% which is about 1,538,096 by counting.

In 1800, 79,216 people lived in New York which in contrast other districts had 24% of the population leaving vast majority in Manhattan at 76%. On the other there was a considerable higher data with just a 100 year difference. New York climbed from a population of only 79,216 to 3,437,202. Manhattan covered 54% (1,850,093), while Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island summed up 46% that is 1,587,109 of the people living in New York as of 1900.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. The data for 1900 is included, but the comparison between the three time points (1800, 1900, 2000) is not fully integrated or clearly structured. The description of the data is occasionally imprecise, such as referring to 'other districts' without clearly naming them or explaining their collective growth effectively. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that all key features are clearly highlighted and that the comparison between the districts is more systematic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression between ideas is sometimes weak. For instance, the transition between the general overview and the specific data points in the third and fourth paragraphs feels abrupt. Cohesive devices are used, but they are sometimes mechanical or slightly misused, such as 'On the other there was a considerable higher data'. Improved use of linking words and clearer referencing would enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on simple verbs like 'climbed' and 'topped'. There are also some awkward collocations and phrasing, such as 'by counting' and 'summed up 46% that is 1,587,109'. While the meaning is clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is a lack of sophisticated or academic terminology that would be expected for a higher band score. Focus on using more precise terms to describe trends and statistical data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally hinder clarity. For example, 'The tables below demonstrates' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'was not high in the 1800' (incorrect article usage and pluralization). You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the complex ones often contain errors, such as 'which in contrast other districts had 24%'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage would be beneficial.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.