Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-12

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 depicts the overall population of New York City's five districts between 1800 and 2000 while the next two tables show the same changes separately.

Overall, the key feature is that the number of people surged in New York. Moreover, even though the number of residents in Manhattan saw fluctuations over the 200 years, the percentage of the total population dropped steadily for this area while the other four witnessed growth in both population and percentage.

In the five districts of New York, the population increased significantly from 79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000. Manhattan had the highest figure (76%) of 60,515 people in 1800 while the other four boroughs (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) were roughly 18,701 with 24%. Additionally, in 1900 Manhattan's figure was more than half 54% with 1,850,093 and the others were approximately 46% with 1,587,109.

Conversely, the dominance of numbers reversed in the final year 2000 when Manhattan's population decreased to 1,538,096, representing 19%; while the other four districts were noted up to 6,471,089, representing 81% which was the highest recorded figure in the whole chart.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively identifies the main trends, such as the overall population surge and the shift in demographic dominance from Manhattan to the other four boroughs. You have successfully selected and reported key data points to support these trends. However, the analysis could be improved by providing a more nuanced comparison of the growth rates between the individual boroughs rather than grouping them together so broadly. While the overview is clear, ensuring that all data points are accurately represented—such as the specific population figures—is essential for a higher band. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological and thematic progression. Cohesive devices such as 'conversely', 'additionally', and 'while' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The flow of information is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the comparison between the different time periods and districts. To reach a higher band, ensure that referencing within sentences is always precise to avoid any ambiguity.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'surged', 'witnessed growth', and 'dominance of numbers' are used appropriately in an academic context. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which adds to the clarity of the report. While the vocabulary is generally accurate, there are minor instances where word choice could be more sophisticated or natural, such as 'noted up to' which is slightly awkward. Overall, the lexical range is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammatical control is generally strong. There are occasional minor slips, such as the phrasing 'the other four boroughs... were roughly 18,701', which lacks a clear verb or preposition to describe the population distribution. Punctuation is generally handled well, though some sentences could benefit from more varied clause structures to enhance the flow. The errors present do not impede communication and the majority of the text is accurate.

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

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