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 given tables show the changes in the total population of New York City and the populations of its five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island) from 1800 to 2000.

Overall the public of New York City increased significantly during the two centuries. Most of this growth happened between 1800 and 1900 and after that the people remained relatively stable. Among the five districts Brooklyn and Manhattan had the highest populations in the early period, while Queens and the Bronx showed big increases later on.

In 1800, The total community of the city was quite low with Manhattan being the most populated area. Brooklyn was also growing fast and by 1900 it had more people than Manhattan. The Bronx and Queens had very small populations in the 1800 but their numbers increased a lot by 1900.

On the other hand, between 1900 and 2000, the population in Manhattan and Brooklyn slightly decreased, while Queens and Staten Island continued to grow. Staten Island always had the smallest number of people, but it showed a steady rise over the years.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task and provides a clear overview of the population trends. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the significant growth between 1800 and 1900 and the contrasting trends between the boroughs in the later century. However, the analysis could be improved by incorporating more specific data points from the tables to support your observations. For instance, when mentioning that the population 'increased significantly' or that Staten Island showed a 'steady rise', citing the actual figures would strengthen your response and demonstrate a more precise engagement with the provided data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand' and 'In 1800' to link ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, separating the early growth period from the later trends. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between sentences is even smoother and avoid slightly repetitive phrasing. The overall flow is clear, and the reader can easily follow the development of your argument regarding the demographic shifts in New York City.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'demographic', 'populated', and 'stable' appropriately. However, there are some instances of imprecise word choice, such as using 'public' to refer to the 'population' or 'community'. These choices are slightly unnatural in this context. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations related to data reporting. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, incorporating a wider variety of less common lexical items related to statistical trends would elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and your control of grammar is generally good. Most sentences are clear and easy to understand. There are a few minor errors, such as 'in the 1800' (should be 'in the 1800s') and the slightly awkward phrasing in the overview. Punctuation is generally accurate, though ensure consistent capitalization of borough names. The errors present do not impede communication, but to achieve a higher band, you should aim for a greater variety of complex structures and ensure that your grammatical accuracy is more consistent throughout the text.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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