Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-20
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 illustrates the changes among the entire population ranging between years 1800 and 2000 involving five disctricts of New York such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.
Overall, it is evident that the population distribution underwent a significant shift away from Manhattan towards the other districts over the period shown. Whereas, the total population of New York rose dramatically over the years.
In 1800, Manhattan had a population of 60,515, accounting for 76% of the total population, whereas the other districts were home to only 18,701 people, or 24%. By 1900, Manhattan's poopulation had surged to approximately 1.85 million, making it the more populous area, although its proportion of the overall population had fallen to 54%.uring the same period, the population of the other districts rose dramatically to around 1.59 million, representing 46% of the total. By 2000, Manhattan's population decresed with time to approximately 1.5 million.
In contrast, the population of the other districts more than quadrupled, reaching approximately 6.47 million. Consequently, these districts accounted for 81% of the total population by 2000. While, the population of all five districts increased significantly in the year 2000, as around 8 million.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The student successfully covers all key parts of the prompt by selecting and reporting the main features of the population changes in New York City from 1800 to 2000. An effective overview is provided right at the beginning, pointing out the major shift in population distribution away from Manhattan to the other districts alongside overall population growth. Key data points, such as the exact percentages and figures for 1800, 1900, and 2000, are accurately cited and compared. The response is fully developed and well-grounded in the provided visual data, meeting all requirements for this criterion with clear, relevant comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The text presents a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information is grouped sensibly into an introduction with an overview, followed by chronological body paragraphs detailing the specific figures for Manhattan and the other districts. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'by 1900', and 'in contrast' are used effectively to signal relationships between ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing throughout the text remains clear. Although a few minor mechanical errors appear in transitions, the overall structure flows smoothly and guides the reader naturally through the data.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suited to an academic task, employing terms like 'population distribution', 'surged', 'proportion', and 'quadrupled'. However, there are a few noticeable spelling and lexical errors, such as 'disctricts', 'poopulation', and 'decresed with time', as well as a slight awkwardness in phrasing ('increased significantly in the year 2000, as around 8 million'). Despite these slips, the lexical resource is sufficient to convey precise information and trends effectively, stopping short of higher bands due to repetitive minor spelling inaccuracies.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is utilized throughout the response, including dependent clauses ('Whereas, the total population...') and participial phrases. There are several grammatical errors and awkward structures, notably the fragment 'While, the population of all five districts increased significantly...' and a missing preposition or article in places. However, many sentences are error-free, and the grammatical flaws do not impede the overall communication of the data. Control of grammar and punctuation is generally satisfactory for a Band 6.0 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.