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 tables detail population changes in New York City and its districts Manhattan; Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, New York City's total population soared over these two centuries. Manhattan's population share declined, while the other districts' population and share surged.
In 1800, the city had 79,216 people. By 1900, this jumped to 3,437,202, and further to 8,009,185 in 2000.
Manhattan held 60,515 residents in 1800. By 1900, its population grew to 1,850,093 but its share dropped to 54%. By 2000, it fell to 1,538,096, making up just 19% of the total.
The other districts had 18,701 people (24% of the total) in 1800. In 1900, their population reached 1,587,109. By 2000, it soared to 6,471,089, accounting for 81% of the city's population.
In short, New York City's overall population expanded dramatically. Manhattan's population decline gradually, while the other districts became far more populous and dominant in the region
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the population changes in New York City and its districts. You have successfully selected key data points to support your summary, such as the total population growth and the shift in percentage share between Manhattan and the other districts. The comparison between the two time periods is well-handled. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are fully integrated; for instance, you could have briefly mentioned the specific growth of individual districts like Brooklyn or Queens to provide a more comprehensive picture of the 'other' category.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving from the total population to specific district comparisons. You use cohesive devices such as 'In 1800', 'By 1900', and 'In short' to guide the reader. However, the punctuation in the first sentence is slightly awkward; using a colon or a dash after 'districts' would be more appropriate than a semicolon. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the overview from the supporting data.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a data-summary task, using terms like 'soared', 'surged', 'declined', and 'populous'. This allows for a clear and precise description of the trends. There is a minor error in the final paragraph where you wrote 'Manhattan's population decline' instead of 'declined'. While the vocabulary is sufficient and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'population' (e.g., 'demographic figures', 'inhabitants') would enhance the lexical variety further.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are clear and error-free. There is a minor grammatical slip in the final paragraph: 'Manhattan's population decline gradually' should be 'declined gradually'. Additionally, the list of districts in the first sentence is punctuated incorrectly; a colon should follow 'districts' to introduce the list. Despite these minor issues, your control over complex sentence structures is generally good, and the errors do not impede communication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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