Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11

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 given tables represent the changes in the total population in the New York City along with the changes in the districts namely, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island over two centuries (1800 to 2000).

Overall, a sharp increase was seen in the New York City's population out of which Manhattan district contributed to the growing population the most up to a century, and in the following century the other four districts' population increased noticeably.

Initially in 1800, New York's total population was 79,216, and among the five districts, the Manhattan district contributed 76% of the total.

A dramatic growth was observed after a century as the total head count of the city was, 3,437,202, this was because the population had increased in the other four districts almost by double as they contributed 46% of the total.

In 2000, the population of the city sky rocketed with a total of 8,009,185, and in contrast to the previous decades the growth was majorly due to the population growth in the districts apart from Manhattan, and they contributed 81% to the total

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the population changes. You selected key data points, such as the initial 1800 figures and the final 2000 totals, to support your summary. However, the report could be improved by providing more specific data comparisons between the districts. For instance, while you mention the shift in contribution from Manhattan to the other districts, you could explicitly contrast the growth rates of specific districts like Brooklyn or Queens to provide a more comprehensive analysis. The summary is accurate and covers all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. You use cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'A dramatic growth', and 'In 2000' to guide the reader through the timeline. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different time periods. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'sharp increase', 'dramatic growth', and 'sky rocketed'. There is some awareness of style, although some phrasing is slightly informal or repetitive. For example, 'head count' is a bit colloquial for an academic report. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repeating the word 'contributed' multiple times. The vocabulary is adequate 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, such as the opening complex sentence and the use of relative clauses. There are some minor punctuation errors, such as the unnecessary comma after 'was' in the fourth paragraph and the missing period at the end of the final sentence. While these errors are present, they do not impede the reader's understanding of the data. To improve, focus on ensuring consistent punctuation and refining the use of articles and prepositions to achieve greater accuracy in your complex sentences.

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