Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-03

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 3 table represents the changes in the population of New York City over a period of 200 years between 1800 and 2000 , as well as the changes in the population of the five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) of New York City over the same period.

Overall , the population of the New York City rose significantly over the period . Likewise , the five districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) also showed a drastic incline over period and covered the majority of total population by the end of 200 years . Meanwhile , Manhattan grew significantly by the first century covering half of the total population and showed a minute decline by the next 100 years .

At the beginning of the period , the total population of New York City was 79,216 . After a century , in 1900 the total population showed a significant increase jumping to 3,437,202 . By the end of the period the total population of the New York City was recorded at 8,009,185 . Regarding Manhattan, the population was recorded at 60,515 by the beginning of the period . By the next 100 years , the population of Manhattan rocketed to 1,850,093 which cover the 54% of the total population of New York City . At the end of the second century , the population dropped down to 1,538,096 ,which only covered the 19% of the total population .

In terms of other districts ( Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island),

the population was only 18,701 which covered the 24% of the total population by the beginning of the period . By the next 100 years the population surged to 1,587,109 which was the 46% of the total population of New York City . By the end of the year 2000 the population was at its peak 6,471,098 which covered 82% of the total population .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses the task by summarizing the population changes in NYC and its districts. You have identified the main trends, such as the overall growth of the city and the contrasting patterns between Manhattan and the other districts. You have also included relevant data points to support your descriptions. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for example, when discussing the 'other districts', it would be more effective to briefly mention the individual growth of Brooklyn or Queens rather than grouping them entirely, as the data allows for more specific analysis. Overall, the report is clear and covers all key features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'At the beginning of the period', and 'In terms of' to link your points. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as 'The 3 table' (should be 'The three tables'). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general overview from the specific data analysis, which helps the reader navigate the information effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information clearly. Phrases like 'rocketed to', 'surged to', and 'at its peak' are effective in describing trends. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'drastic incline' (a 'sharp increase' or 'steep rise' would be more natural) and 'minute decline' (which is slightly contradictory; 'slight decline' is better). Despite these occasional inaccuracies, your vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips throughout the text. For instance, 'The 3 table represents' should be 'The three tables represent', and 'which cover the 54%' should be 'which covered 54%'. Additionally, there are some punctuation errors, such as unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors are frequent, they do not impede the reader's understanding of the data. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing historical data.

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