Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-18
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 how the total population of New York City has changed from 1800 to 2000, while the second and third tables provide information about how the population of five districts namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island has changed throughout the same period of time.
Overall, the total population saw an upward trend. Meanwhile, the Manhattan district which initially accounted for highest percentage of total population ended up declining substantially by 2000, whereas the other districts saw an considerable growth.
In 1800, the total population of New York City was just 79,216 which then increased significantly by 1900 reaching 3,437,202 . Over the next century, the total population kept on rising, reaching 8,009,185 by 2000. It is clear that the population almost increased 10 times over the 2 centuries.
As for the districts, In 1800, Manhattan accounted for 76% of total population compared to 24% of other combined districts. However, Manhattan failed to keep this proportion consistently. By 2000, the population of Other districts increased considerably reaching 81% of total population.This means that the percentage almost increased by four times. In contrast, the Manhattan's population dropped over the period reaching just 19% of net population by 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The candidate successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the population changes in New York City and its districts between 1800 and 2000. Data is accurately cited from the tables, such as the overall population increasing from 79,216 to 8,009,185, and Manhattan's percentage dropping from 76% to 19%. A clear overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the contrasting trends between Manhattan and the other districts. Relevant comparisons are well made throughout the response, satisfying all requirements of the task achievement descriptor for Band 7.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It is divided into four distinct paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, a body paragraph detailing the total population, and a final body paragraph focusing on the district comparisons. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'whereas', 'In 1800', and 'In contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data, although some minor referencing issues occur (e.g., 'the Manhattan's population'). Overall, paragraphing and logical sequencing are well managed, earning a solid Band 7.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The candidate demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, using terms such as 'upward trend', 'declining substantially', and 'considerable growth'. There are occasional slight awkwardness or inaccuracies, such as 'an considerable growth' (incorrect article) and 'net population' instead of total population. However, less common items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, and the vocabulary is more than adequate to convey the data clearly, fitting the Band 6.5 descriptor well.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and comparative forms (e.g., 'while the second and third tables provide information about how...'). There are some minor grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('accounted for highest percentage', 'In 1800, As for the districts, In 1800') and an unnecessary article ('an considerable growth'). Punctuation is generally sound, and punctuation errors do not impede communication. The control of grammar aligns comfortably with a Band 6.5 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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