Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-12

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 data table illustrates variations in the total population of New York City between 1800 and 2000, whereas the second and third tables demonstrate changes in the populations of the city's five districts over the same period.

Overall, New York City's population increased from thousands to millions from 1800 to 2000. The population growth in the first two centuries was mainly because of the increase in the number of people in Manhattan, but in 2000, it rose due to the large number of people in other districts.

In 1800, there were around 79,216 people in New York City. The number surged to 3,437,202 and 8,009,185 in 1900 and 2000, respectively. In 1800, 76% of the total population was living in Manhattan, with the figure standing at 60,515. However, the proportion of the population was lower in 1900, standing at 54%, with 1,850,093 people living there, while in 2000, there were a fewer number of people living in Manhattan with the proportion of 19%, having the exact figure 1,538,096.

For the other four districts, namely Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten island the population rose considerably between 1800 and 2000. The 24% of total population was living in 1800, with the figure standing at 18,701. In 1900, the population figure soared to 1,587,109, accounting for 46% of the total, but the proportion was by far the highest in 2000, with the exact number 6,471,089 and percentage of 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The candidate successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features, trends, and making relevant comparisons between New York City's total population and its five districts from 1800 to 2000. An overview is provided, highlighting the general population growth from thousands to millions, driven initially by Manhattan and later by other districts. Specific data points, such as the total population figures (79,216 in 1800 to 8,009,185 in 2000) and percentages for Manhattan (76% down to 19%), are accurately cited to support the overview. The information is well-selected and properly integrated into a cohesive comparative summary, satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paraphrase, moves into an overview, and follows with detailed body paragraphs broken down by total city data, Manhattan, and the remaining districts. Paragraphing is used appropriately. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'Overall', 'However', and 'while' are employed effectively to guide the reader through the data. Referencing is generally clear, though minor issues with awkward phrasing in grouping the remaining four districts slightly impact seamless flow. Overall, the logical structure and cohesive management firmly align with a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task, incorporating terms like 'variations', 'demonstrate', 'surged', 'proportion', and 'considerably'. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'accounting for 46% of the total'. There are occasional awkward expressions or minor word-choice errors, such as 'there were a fewer number of people' instead of 'fewer people', and grouping Staten Island with a lowercase 'island'. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is varied enough to allow precise reporting of data, fitting the Band 6.5 or 7.0 profile; a Band 6.5 is awarded due to minor slips in collocation and phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses ('whereas the second and third tables demonstrate...', 'while in 2000, there were...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and control over basic and complex grammar is generally good. However, a few minor inaccuracies occur, such as missing articles or slightly clunky phrasing ('The 24% of total population was living in 1800'). Punctuation is mostly accurate, and these minor errors do not impede communication. This balance of a variety of structures with occasional non-systematic errors corresponds to a Band 7.0 descriptor.

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