Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-10
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 total number of population shifts in New York between 1800 to 2000 is displayed in the first table and the rest of the tables compare the population changes of the five boroughs of the city namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.
Overall, the number of residents in New York had risen significantly in the given period overtime. Manhattan seemed to be the most popular destination for residents till 1900 before experiencing a dramatic drop in 2000, making the other four districts stand out in that year.
In 1800, out of 79,216 people living in New York, 60,515 resided in Manhattan, which is 76 in proportion of the total number, leaving only 18,701 or 24% reside in the other four districts. Then, the number of overall inhabitants increased massively in 1900 reaching approximately to 3.4 million people. Manhattan still stood as a strong destination for about 1.8 million people, which is 54% of the total population. Even though, Manhattan was the most popular district, the number of residents increased to about 1.5 million in 1900 in the other four boroughs, displaying 46% of the total number.
The total number more than doubled to 8,009,185 in 2000. However, this time the other four districts became more popular with 6,471,089 people living there reaching 81% of the total population. Whereas, Manhattan experienced a drastic fall to only 1,538,096 residents, which is only 19% of the total New Yorkers in that year.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response covers all parts of the task well. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in distribution from Manhattan to the other four boroughs. The data is used effectively to support the description, with clear comparisons made between the start, middle, and end periods. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the main features. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are described with complete accuracy; for instance, the statement that Manhattan experienced a 'dramatic drop' in 2000 is slightly misleading, as the data shows it remained relatively stable compared to its 1900 figure, while the other boroughs grew significantly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively by time period. Cohesive devices such as 'In 1800', 'Then', 'However', and 'Whereas' are used to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the chronological stages of the report. The progression of ideas is clear throughout the text. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid repetitive sentence starters and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'the other four districts') remains consistently clear throughout the analysis.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'resided in', 'proportion of the total number', and 'drastic fall' are used effectively. There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'number of population shifts' (which should be 'population figures' or 'population changes') and 'reaching approximately to' (the preposition 'to' is unnecessary after 'reaching'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise academic collocations would elevate the response to a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show good control over basic grammar, and most sentences are error-free. However, there are some minor grammatical slips, such as '76 in proportion of the total number' (which should be '76% of the total') and 'Even though, Manhattan was the most popular district' (the comma after 'though' is unnecessary). These errors do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, aim for more sophisticated complex structures and ensure consistent accuracy in prepositional usage and punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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