Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-21

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)

areas of New York City included in the table are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.

Overall, the population of New York increased significantly between the years 1800 to 2000. Moreover, the population of Manhattan decreased massively. Conversely, a large number of areas saw a huge increase in people who lived there.

The number of residents in New York City in 1800 was 79,216. However, this number increased to 3,437,202 in 1900. Finally, in 2000 New York City had 8,009,185 citizens, which makes it the year, with the highest population as compared to all the previous years.

76% of people used to live in Manhattan in 1800, whereas just 24% lived in the other areas of New York. Nevertheless, the number of citizens moving to the other parts increased in 1900. The number of people living in Manhattan increased to 1,850,093 from 60,515 in 1900. Nonetheless, its contribution to the total population reduced to 54%. On the other hand, the percentage of population living in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island rose to 46% from 24% in 1800. Lastly, citizens living in Manhattan reached the lowest percentage of 19% in 2000. At the same time, the other areas reached their peak population of 6,471,089, contributing 81% to the total population of New York City.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task well. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other four districts. You included relevant data points to support your observations. However, the report could be improved by explicitly mentioning the specific data for the five districts in 2000, rather than grouping them together as 'other areas'. While you provided a good overview, a more detailed breakdown of the individual district trends would have provided a more comprehensive summary of the provided tables.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You used a variety of cohesive devices such as 'conversely', 'nevertheless', and 'at the same time' to link ideas effectively. The progression of information is logical, moving from the total population to the specific shift in distribution. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The flow is generally smooth, though some transitions could be slightly more sophisticated to enhance the overall readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'contribution to the total population' and 'reached their peak population' are used effectively. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some choices are slightly repetitive (e.g., 'increased' is used frequently). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for growth and decline, and ensure collocations are consistently natural. The vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'whereas' and 'which makes it'. While there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'which makes it the year, with the highest population' (unnecessary comma) and 'the number of citizens moving to the other parts increased in 1900' (slightly awkward phrasing), these errors do not impede communication. The majority of your sentences are clear and accurate. To improve, focus on refining punctuation and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with greater precision.

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

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