Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-18

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 table given below illustrates information about the changes in the total number of population of New York city from year 1800 to 2000. While other two tables shows changes in the population of five districts of the city.

Overall, in the year 2000 number of population was higher than other in New York. However, in the district of New York the Manhattan was home to the vast majority of residents in 1800, its share of the city's population declined considerably, with the other four district becoming increasingly dominant.

In 1800, New York city had a total population of 79216, of whom 60515 lived in Manhattan. This represented 76% of the city population, compared with only 18701 people or 24%, in the other districts. By 1900, the total population had risen sharply to 3,[redacted phone]. Manhattan's population also increased to 1,850,093, although its proportion fell to 54%. Meanwhile, the population of the other district reached 1,[redacted phone], accounting for 46% of the total.

By 2000, the city population had grown further to just over 8 million. In contrast to the overall trend, Manhattan's population fell to 1,538,096, and its share dropped dramatically to just 19%. The other four districts experienced substantial growth, reaching 6,471,089 residents, or 81% of the city's total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the population shifts in New York City. You have effectively selected key data points from 1800, 1900, and 2000 to illustrate the decline of Manhattan's relative population share and the growth of the other districts. The comparison between the city's total growth and the shifting proportions is well-handled. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are transcribed accurately, as there are minor inconsistencies in the figures provided (e.g., 3,437202 vs 3,437,202). Overall, the response covers all requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information chronologically. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'However', 'In contrast to', and 'Meanwhile' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, 'other two tables' in the introduction could be more smoothly integrated into the sentence structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'vast majority', 'declined considerably', 'increasingly dominant', and 'substantial growth' are used appropriately in an academic context. There are some minor issues with word choice and formatting, such as 'number of population' (which should be 'total population') and inconsistent comma placement in large numbers. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating a few more precise academic collocations would elevate the response further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show good control over comparative structures and time-based clauses. However, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'While other two tables shows' (should be 'show') and 'the other district' (should be plural 'districts'). Additionally, there are punctuation errors in the numerical data (e.g., '3,437202'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proofreading numerical data will help improve your accuracy.

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

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