Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-24

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)

This table below illustrates the data of total population of new York city from years between 1800 to 2000 . and the changes in the population of the five districts .

Overall, New York City experienced massive population growth across the 200-year period. A major demographic shift occurred: while Manhattan originally housed the vast majority of the city's inhabitants, the remaining districts grew significantly faster and eventually accounted for the bulk in the population

In 1800, New York City had a small population of 79,216. Manhattan was the dominant borough, containing 60,515 residents (76% of the city’s total). In contrast, the other four districts combined accounted for only 18,701 people, or 24% of the population.

In 1900, the total population has to be surged to 3,437,202 Although Manhattan’s population grew to 1,850,093, its shares dropped to 54%. Meanwhile, the population in the other districts expanded rapidly to 1,587,109, raising their share to 46%

By 2000, the total population reached 8,009,185. Manhattan’s population slightly declined to 1,538,096, representing just 19% of the overall total. Conversely, the population of the outer districts soared to 6,471,089,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the demographic shift in New York City. You have successfully selected key data points from 1800, 1900, and 2000 to illustrate the transition from Manhattan-centric growth to the expansion of the outer districts. The comparisons between Manhattan and the combined outer districts are well-integrated. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are fully accurate; for instance, the 1900 total population figure is slightly misstated compared to the provided table. Overall, the task is well-addressed with a clear focus on the significant changes over the two-century period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. The use of paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the general trend and specific data points is smooth. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'Conversely' effectively to signal shifts in focus. However, some minor punctuation errors, such as the missing period after 'districts' in the first paragraph and the incomplete sentence at the end of the final paragraph, slightly disrupt the flow. Improving the precision of these linking elements would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'demographic shift', 'dominant borough', and 'accounted for the bulk' are used effectively. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'has to be surged', which is grammatically and lexically awkward in this context. While you use some less common items, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated academic collocations to describe trends and proportions. The vocabulary is generally appropriate 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, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical slips, such as the tense error in 'the total population has to be surged' and the missing punctuation at the end of the final paragraph. Additionally, the opening sentence has a minor capitalization error ('new York city'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the data. To improve, focus on ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing historical data and refining sentence-level punctuation.

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

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