Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-22

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 tables illustrates the changes occurred in the total population of New York City and its five districts - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, New York City's population increased dramatically from 1800 to 2000. While Manhattan accounted for vast majority of city's population in 19th century, its contribution declined by 2000, as other districts experienced substantial growth.

In 1800, New York City had a total population of 79,216 people of whom 76% that is 60,515 people lived in Manhattan. The remaining four districts together contained only 18,701 individuals that were around 24% of total population. Over the following century city's population surged rapidly approximately to 3.43 million in 1900. During this period, Manhattan's population rose sharply to 1.8 million. Nevertheless, its share reduces to just 54% of the total population compared to 76% in previous century.

By 2000, New York City's population had grown just over 8 million. In contrast, Manhattan's population declined to 1,538,096 individuals and its share also dramatically dropped to 19%. The other four districts showed the opposite trend, with their combined population reaching to 6,471,089 that is around 81% of the city's total.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main trends and providing relevant data comparisons. You successfully highlighted the overall growth of New York City and the shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other four districts. The inclusion of specific figures from 1800, 1900, and 2000 provides good support for your observations. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are fully accurate; for instance, the statement that Manhattan's population 'declined' by 2000 is technically correct compared to 1900, but it is important to note that it remained significantly higher than in 1800. Overall, the key features are well-selected and clearly presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Nevertheless', and 'While' helps to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different time periods. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, in the phrase 'its share reduces to just 54%', the tense shift is slightly jarring. Overall, the flow of information is smooth and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision, using terms like 'surged', 'substantial growth', and 'accounted for'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'the tables illustrates' (subject-verb agreement) and 'its share reduces' (tense inconsistency). While the vocabulary is generally appropriate for an academic report, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would enhance the lexical profile. The current range is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication of the data trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'The tables illustrates' (should be 'table illustrates' or 'tables illustrate') and 'its share reduces' (should be 'reduced'). Additionally, 'reached to' is an incorrect collocation; 'reached' is transitive and does not require a preposition. Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and you show good control over complex structures like 'of whom 76% that is 60,515 people lived in Manhattan'. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy.

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