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 first table illustrates changes in the overall population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. In addition, the second and third tables show changes in the population of the five districts of the city, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, over the same period.

Overall, New York City’s population increased dramatically between 1800 and 2000, reaching its highest level in 2000. Additionally, Manhattan accounted for the largest proportion of the city’s population in 1800, but this figure fell to its lowest level in 2000, while other districts accounted for the smallest proportion in 1800 and the largest in 2000.

New York City had the smallest population in 1800, 79,216 people, which increased significantly in 1900 to 3,437,202. Finally, it became the highest, 8,009,185, in 2000.

Furthermore, Manhattan accounted for 76% of New York City’s total population that is 60,515 in 1800, and this population fell to 54% that is 1,850,093 in 1900 and to just 19% that is 1,538,096 in 2000. In contrast, the combined population of other districts was 24% that is 18,701 of New York City’s population in 1800, and it increased dramatically to 46% that is 1,587,109 in 1900 and 81% that is 6,471,089 in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered the total population growth and the significant shift in the proportion of residents living in Manhattan versus the other districts. However, the task requires reporting on the five districts mentioned in the prompt. By grouping them into 'Manhattan' and 'other districts,' you have simplified the data significantly, missing the opportunity to highlight specific trends for Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island individually. To reach a higher band, ensure you include more specific data points for the individual districts rather than aggregating them, as this is a key requirement for a complete summary of the provided tables.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that separate the total population data from the district-specific data. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition,' 'Overall,' 'Finally,' and 'In contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The progression of information is clear, moving from the general city-wide trend to the specific breakdown of district populations. The use of referencing is generally effective, though some sentences could be tightened to improve the flow between the percentage and the raw number data.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'accounted for the largest proportion,' 'increased dramatically,' and 'fell to its lowest level' are appropriate for a data description task. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is somewhat repetitive, particularly in the way you introduce the data points. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate a wider variety of reporting verbs and synonyms for 'increase' or 'decrease' (e.g., 'surged,' 'plummeted,' 'experienced a decline'). The use of numerical data is precise and supports your analysis well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writing shows good control of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively. There are some minor issues with punctuation and sentence structure, such as 'that is 60,515 in 1800,' which could be more smoothly integrated using parentheses or relative clauses (e.g., 'which amounted to 60,515'). Despite these minor slips, the meaning is always clear, and the errors do not impede communication. The use of comparative structures is accurate, and the tense usage is consistent with the historical data provided in the prompt.

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

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