Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-11

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 initial chart illustrates changes inn the whole population of New York city from 1800 to 2000.

The second and third tabular representation depicts the changes in the populace of the five provinces of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

In 1800, New York City had a total population of 79,216, of which 60,515 (76%) lived in Manhattan. The remaining four districts together contained only 18,701 people, accounting for 24% of the total. By 1900, the city’s population had risen sharply to 3,437,202. Manhattan’s population also increased considerably to 1,850,093, although its proportion fell to 54%. Meanwhile, the population of the other districts grew to 1,587,109 representing 46% of the city’s total.

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

The tables provide information about changes in the population of New York City as a whole and in its five districts between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, the population of New York City increased dramatically over the period. While Manhattan accounted for the majority of the city’s population in 1800, its share declined considerably by 2000. In contrast, the other four districts experienced substantial growth and represented the vast majority of the population at the end of the period.

In 1800, New York City had a total population of 79,216, of which 60,515 (76%) lived in Manhattan. The remaining four districts together contained only 18,701 people, accounting for 24% of the total. By 1900, the city’s population had risen sharply to 3,437,202. Manhattan’s population also increased considerably to 1,850,093, although its proportion fell to 54%. Meanwhile, the population of the other districts grew to 1,587,109, representing 46% of the city’s total.

By 2000, the total population had more than doubled compared with 1900, reaching 8,009,185. However, Manhattan’s population decreased slightly to 1,538,096, and its share fell dramatically to just 19%. In contrast, the other districts saw remarkable growth, reaching 6,471,089 people, or 81% of New York City’s total population.

Overall, the population of New York City increased dramatically over the period. While Manhattan accounted for the majority of the city’s population in 1800, its share declined considerably by 2000. In contrast, the other four districts experienced substantial growth and represented the vast majority of the population at the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all requirements of the task by summarizing the population changes in NYC and its districts. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the dramatic overall growth and the shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. However, the response contains significant structural issues, including a repetitive introduction and a duplicated conclusion, which negatively impacts the overall presentation. While the data is accurate and well-selected, the inclusion of redundant paragraphs suggests a lack of careful proofreading, which prevents the response from reaching the highest band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the overview to the specific data points. However, the coherence is severely undermined by the repetition of the entire introduction and conclusion. This makes the text feel disjointed and suggests a lack of logical flow control. While cohesive devices like 'Meanwhile', 'In contrast', and 'By 2000' are used effectively to link sentences, the structural errors create a confusing reading experience that prevents a higher score.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, using terms such as 'tabular representation', 'proportion', 'sharply', and 'substantial growth'. The word choice is generally precise and fits the context of describing statistical data. There are minor errors, such as 'inn' (typo) and 'populace of the five provinces' (districts is more accurate in this context). Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly and with some flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. You demonstrate good control over past tense verbs and comparative structures, such as 'more than doubled' and 'its share fell dramatically'. While there are occasional errors, such as the typo 'inn' and the slightly awkward phrasing 'The second and third tabular representation depicts' (subject-verb agreement), the grammar is generally accurate and does not impede communication. The majority of sentences are error-free, showing a solid command of English grammar.

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