Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-15
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 compare the changes in total population of New York City over 300 years. The first table illustrates the overall changes in the population in all five districts, while the second and third images show the proportion of changes in the population of five districts, illustrating seperate data for Manhattan over the same period.
Overall, it is evident that the total population in New York City experienced a sharp increase during 300-year period, along with the increase in residents in four districts, such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. However, the ratio of inhabitants in Manhattan decreased signoficantily over the same period.
Looking first at the total population of New York City, the figure reached 8,009,185 in 2000 from only 79,216 in 1800, which represented significant growth over the period. Furthermore, the third table illustrates the proportion of population in four districts. In 1800, only 18,701 individuals live which represented almost a quarter of the total population. However, the figure continue to rise and reach 81% in 2000.
Turning to the Manhattan, there were 60,515 people in 1800, which represented 76% of total population. The proportion then declined dramatically, reaching only 19% by 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by summarizing the main features of the tables, including the total population growth and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other four districts. An overview is clearly presented in the second paragraph, highlighting the sharp overall increase alongside contrasting trends for Manhattan and the rest of the city. Key data points are correctly cited, such as the total population reaching 8,009,185 in 2000 and Manhattan's drop from 76% to 19%. The response meets all requirements for Task Achievement, demonstrating a well-supported and accurate interpretation of the visual data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph framing the tables, moves to an effective overview paragraph, and follows with well-structured body paragraphs detailing the specific data. Cohesive devices are used adequately to connect ideas, such as 'Looking first at' and 'Turning to the Manhattan'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct function in the essay. While referencing and paragraph transitions are generally smooth, occasional minor awkwardness in phrasing prevents a higher score.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms such as 'proportion', 'inhabitants', 'dramatically', and 'significant growth'. However, there are a few spelling and word-form errors, most notably 'signoficantily' and grammatical inaccuracies like 'individuals live' instead of 'individuals lived', as well as the tense slip 'continue' instead of 'continued'. Despite these errors, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the data accurately, and meaning is never impeded.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used throughout the response, including relative clauses and subordinate structures (e.g., 'which represented significant growth over the period'). There are several noticeable grammatical errors, such as 'over 300-year period' (missing article), 'seperate' (spelling error), and tense inconsistencies like 'continue to rise and reach'. However, the majority of simple sentences are error-free, and complex structures do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in the band 6 territory.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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