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 changed from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the population of New York City showed a significant growth in the given period. The proportion of total population of Manhattan district declined, however other districts showed an increasing trend.

In 1800, the total population of New York was 79,216 which climbed to 3,437,202 by 1900 and continued increasing, reaching 8,009,185 in 2000. In Manhattan district, there were 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 to 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 a rise in population over the period. In 1800, only 18,701 people were living in these districts, 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

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively identifies the main trends in the data, specifically the overall growth of New York City and the shifting population distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. You have successfully selected key data points to support your summary, such as the population figures for 1800, 1900, and 2000. However, to reach a higher band, you could provide more nuanced comparisons between the specific districts mentioned in the second table, rather than grouping them all together as 'other districts'. While the overview is clear, a more detailed breakdown of the individual growth rates of the smaller districts would have provided a more comprehensive analysis of the provided information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'however', and 'before dipping to' to link your points. The paragraphing is appropriate, with each section serving a distinct purpose. To improve, ensure that the transition between the general city data and the specific district data is slightly smoother to avoid a mechanical feel in the structure. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that facilitates easy reading.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately. Phrases like 'constituting 76% of the total population' and 'accounting for 46%' are used correctly. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as '60,515 numbers of people', which is slightly unnatural; 'a population of 60,515' would be more precise. You have used a good variety of verbs to describe trends, such as 'climbed', 'dipping', and 'peaked'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or academic synonyms to describe the data trends, which would enhance the precision of your report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which allows for easy communication. There are occasional minor grammatical slips, such as 'The proportion of total population of Manhattan district declined', where articles are missing ('the' proportion, 'the' Manhattan district). Additionally, 'represented a rise in population' is grammatically acceptable but slightly awkward in this context. Despite these minor issues, your control over complex structures is generally good, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout the text. The errors do not impede the reader's understanding of the data.

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

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