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)

The data illustrate change in total population New York city and its distribution among five cities (Manhattan, Brookly, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) between 1800 and 2000.

overall,the total population of New York city experienced a massive over the two century period.

In 1800 , New York City had a modest total population of 79,216 . the majority of these inhabitants 76% lived in Manhattan. The remaining four districts collectively accounted for just 18701 residents , or 24% of the total.Over the next century, the city underwent rapid expansion, with the overall population climbing steeply to 3,437,202 by 1900. Manhattan's population also grew substantially to 1,850,093; however, its share of the total city population dropped to a narrow majority of 54%. Meanwhile, the population in the other districts expanded sharply to 1,587,109, making up 46% of the city.

By the year 2000, New York City's total population more than doubled again, reaching 8,009,185. This era marked a complete reversal in population distribution. Manhattan's resident count dipped slightly to 1,538,096, shrinking to represent only 19% of the city's total. In contrast, the remaining districts experienced explosive growth, surging to 6,471,089 residents and capturing a dominant 81% share of the overall population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the population shifts in New York City. You have successfully highlighted the contrast between the initial dominance of Manhattan and its eventual decline in relative population share compared to the other districts. The use of data to support these points is accurate and well-selected. To reach a higher band, ensure that the overview is more distinct and clearly separated from the body paragraphs, and consider incorporating a more explicit comparison between the specific growth rates of the individual districts rather than just grouping them as 'other districts' throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear progression from the initial state in 1800 to the final state in 2000. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'in contrast', and 'however' are used appropriately to link ideas. However, the transition between the introduction and the overview is slightly abrupt, and the overview itself is quite brief. Improving the flow between these sections would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'modest', 'rapid expansion', 'steeply', and 'explosive growth' to describe the data trends. There are a few minor errors, such as 'massive over the two century period' (missing a noun like 'increase') and the spelling error 'Brookly'. Despite these, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information with precision. To improve, try to incorporate more varied collocations and ensure that all nouns are correctly paired with their modifiers.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response shows a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, though there are some minor punctuation and capitalization issues, such as the lowercase 'overall' at the start of the second paragraph and inconsistent spacing. The use of complex structures, such as 'with the overall population climbing steeply', is well-handled. To achieve a higher score, focus on eliminating these small mechanical errors and ensure consistent punctuation throughout the text.

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

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