Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-03
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 first table below illustrates the total population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. The second and third tables describe the population of all five districts of the city from 1800 to 2000.
Overall it is evident that the population of New York increased significantly over the years. However, Manhattan had the largest share of total population in 1800.
In 1800, the total population of New York was 79,216 considerably lower than the figures for other years. By 1900 it increased significantly to approximately 3.4 million, it then dramatically rose to 8 million by the end of the period.
In 1800, Manthan accounted for the largest proportion o the total population of New York at 76% . By 1900 the population of Manhattan increased to 1.8 million, however it made 54% of total population. In contrast the population decreased to 1.5 million by 2000 and accounted for only 19% of the entire population.
Other four districts collectively accounted for 24% of the total population in 1800. The figure increased notably to 1.5 million which made 46% of the population in New York. However there was massive increase in the percentage of population in 2000, the figure reached 6.4 million and accounted for largest share of population at 81%.
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, providing a clear overview and selecting key data points to illustrate trends. You successfully identified the significant growth in total population and the shift in distribution from Manhattan to the other four districts. However, the analysis could be improved by more explicitly comparing the specific figures between the districts in 1900 and 2000, rather than just listing them. The inclusion of percentages is a strong point, as it helps clarify the relative changes. Ensure that all data points are accurately transcribed, as there is a minor discrepancy in the 1900 Manhattan percentage calculation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information by time and district. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'However', and 'By 1900' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is appropriate, with each section focusing on a distinct aspect of the data. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between sentences is smoother, as some sentences feel slightly disconnected. For instance, the jump from the 1800 data to the 1900 data could be linked more fluidly to improve the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'increased significantly', 'dramatically rose', and 'accounted for'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally successful. However, there are a few minor errors, such as the spelling of 'Manthan' (Manhattan) and the missing preposition in 'made 54% of total population' (should be 'made up'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do prevent the response from reaching the highest band. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would further enhance your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are accurate, there are some punctuation and grammatical slips, such as the comma splice in 'By 1900 it increased significantly to approximately 3.4 million, it then dramatically rose...' and the missing article in 'accounted for largest share'. These errors are infrequent and do not cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, focus on using more varied complex structures, such as relative clauses or participle phrases, and ensure that punctuation is used correctly to separate independent clauses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.