Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000, whereas the second and third tables show the changes in the population of five districts of New York City.

Overall, the population of New York City increased gradually over the years. District-wise, the population of Manhattan increased more than other districts except in 2000, when other districts surpassed Manhattan.

In 1800, the population of New York City was only 79216. But in 1900, the number rose to 3,437,202. In 2000, however, there was a significant increase in population in New York City, which was 8,009,185.

The district of Manhattan had a population of 60,515 in 1800, which is significantly higher than other districts, such as Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, which had a population of 18,701. As a proportion of the total population, Manhattan had 76% of the population, and other districts had only 24%. In 1900, the population climbed sharply in both Manhattan and other districts, with 1,850,096 in Manhattan and 1,587,109 in other districts. At the time, Manhattan had 54% of the total population, and other districts had 46%, which is not very low compared to Manhattan. In the year 2000, the population of Manhattan dropped significantly compared to other districts. Manhattan had a population of 1,538,096, which was 19% of the total population, and other districts had 6,471,089, which was 81% of the total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the population changes. You included relevant data points to support your descriptions, such as the shift in population proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the report could be improved by grouping the data more effectively. For instance, instead of listing figures chronologically, you could have contrasted the rapid growth of the outer districts against the relative decline of Manhattan's share. Additionally, while you mentioned the districts, you did not explicitly name all of them in the body paragraphs, which would have provided a more comprehensive summary of the provided tables.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'in 1900', and 'in the year 2000' to guide the reader through the timeline. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general city trends from the specific district comparisons. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between sentences is smoother; some sentences feel slightly repetitive in their structure. Using a wider variety of linking phrases would further enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'surpassed', 'proportion of the total population', and 'climbed sharply' are used effectively. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the frequent use of 'population' and 'districts'. To improve, try to use synonyms or alternative ways to refer to the data, such as 'inhabitants', 'demographic figures', or 'the remaining boroughs'. The use of 'not very low' is a bit informal; 'comparable' or 'significant' would be more precise in an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and your grammar is generally accurate, which ensures that your meaning is clear. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'the population of Manhattan increased more than other districts', where a comparison of the populations (rather than the districts themselves) would be more accurate. You also have a few minor punctuation slips. To improve, try to incorporate more varied complex structures, such as using relative clauses or participle phrases to combine information, which would demonstrate a higher level of grammatical control.

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