Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-23
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 below illustrate how the total population of New York and the five districts of that city changes from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the population of New York city showed a considerable growth in the given period. The proportion of total population of Manhattan city declined, however other cities showed increasing trend.
In 1800, total population of New York was 79,216 , which climbed to 3,437,202 by 1900 and continued increasing, reaching 8,[redacted phone] in 2000. In Manhattan district, there was 60,515 numbers of people in the year 1800, constituting 76% of the total population. This figure rose to 1,850,093 in 1900, holding 54% of the total population, before dipping at 1,538,096 with 19% of total population at the end of the period.
In contrast, other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island) represented rise in population over the period. In 1800, only 18,701 people were living in these cities, representing 24% of the total population, which then peaked at 1,587,109 by 1900, accounting for 46% of the total population. This figure further increased to 6,471,089 in 2000, making up 81% of the total population of New York city.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers all parts of the task by summarizing the total population growth and the shifts in district proportions. You successfully identified the main trend: the overall increase in population and the relative decline of Manhattan compared to the other districts. However, the analysis could be improved by including more specific comparisons between the districts in the middle of the period. For instance, you grouped the other four districts together, which is a good strategy for clarity, but ensure that the data points selected are the most significant to support your summary. The overview is clear and provides a good snapshot of the data.
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. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'however', and 'before dipping at' helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the total population/Manhattan data from the other districts. To reach a higher band, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, referring to the districts as 'cities' is slightly inaccurate as they are districts of one city, which can cause minor confusion.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'considerable growth', 'constituting', and 'accounting for'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as referring to the districts as 'cities' and the phrase 'represented rise in population', which would be more natural as 'represented a rise in population' or 'showed an increase'. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise academic collocations would enhance the sophistication of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'total population of New York and the five districts of that city changes' (should be 'changed') and 'there was 60,515 numbers of people' (should be 'there were 60,515 people'). Additionally, there is a minor punctuation error in the number '8,009185'. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing historical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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