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 up and downs 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 proportion, at 76% with a population of 60,515 in 1800 while the other four boroughs (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) had combined population of 18,701 with 24%. Additionally, in 1900 Manhattan witnessed the highest number of residents at more than half (54%) at 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 7.0

The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the population shifts in New York City. You successfully highlight the contrast between Manhattan's declining percentage and the growth of the other four boroughs. The data is well-selected, and the comparison between the start (1800) and end (2000) points is accurate. However, the report could be improved by including more specific data points from the intermediate years (such as 1900 or 1950) to better illustrate the 'ups and downs' mentioned in the overview. Overall, the response covers all requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'Additionally', and 'while' are used to link ideas, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the initial state from the final shift in population dynamics. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the general city-wide trend to the specific borough-level changes. To reach a higher band, ensure that the flow between sentences is slightly more varied and natural.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'surged', 'witnessed growth', and 'dominance of numbers' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'noted up to' which is slightly unnatural in this context. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise academic terminology—such as 'demographic shift', 'proportionate decline', or 'subsequent growth'—would elevate the lexical sophistication of the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and easy to follow. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'saw up and downs' (should be 'ups and downs') and 'the other four were approximately 46%' (which lacks a clear subject/noun). Punctuation is generally sound, though some sentences could be tightened for better flow. The grammatical control is sufficient to communicate the data accurately, with errors being infrequent and not impeding the reader's understanding.

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

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