Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-22
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 table provides data on the overall change in the population of New York City, while the others illustrate the changes across the five districts of the city from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, New York City accounted for the highest population over the period. The figure for Manhattan constituted high percentage in the total population of the city over two centuries, while Brooklyn, Bronx, Queen and Staten Island shared the substantial figures by the end of the period.
Looking at the tables in more detail, the population of New York City increased steadily from 79,216 in 1800, to 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 2000. Although Manhattan constituted 76% of the total change to 60,515 population in 1800, it decreased gradually to 54% in 1900 and declined sharply to 19% in 2000.
In contrast, the other districts presented a rise in the change in population from the Manhattan district. The figure was 24% in 1800, grew to 46% in 1900, and dramatically rose to 81% along with 6,471,089 population in 2000. A notable variation is shown between the Manhattan and the other districts in 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 response successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the population changes in New York City and its districts from 1800 to 2000. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the dominant role of Manhattan initially and the shift towards other districts by the end of the period. Key data points, such as the total population figures and percentages for Manhattan and the other districts, are accurately reported and compared (e.g., Manhattan dropping from 76% in 1800 to 19% in 2000). The information is fully supported by the provided data, and no significant inaccuracies or omissions are present. This meets the criteria for a high band in Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organised with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introduction outlining the data sources, followed by an overview paragraph, and then moves into detailed descriptions in the subsequent paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate general trends from specific data points. Cohesive devices are generally handled well, using phrases like 'Overall', 'Looking at the tables in more detail', and 'In contrast' to guide the reader through the data. However, minor referencing issues or awkward transitional phrasing occasionally appear, such as 'rise in the change in population from the Manhattan district', which slightly affects fluency but does not impede overall readability.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate and appropriate for an academic task, incorporating terms such as 'overall change', 'constituted', 'steadily', 'gradually', and 'dramatically'. Less common lexical items are attempted, such as 'proportion', 'variation', and district names. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'constituted high percentage' (missing an article) and 'rise in the change in population', which detract from precision. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout, allowing the message to be communicated clearly without causing confusion for the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating subordinating clauses ('Although Manhattan constituted...') and coordinating structures effectively. There is a good degree of grammatical control with frequent error-free sentences, particularly when stating straightforward numerical facts. However, a few minor grammatical errors persist, such as missing articles ('constituted high percentage' instead of 'constituted a high percentage') and slightly awkward prepositional usage ('rise in the change in population'). These errors do not impede communication and reflect a solid Band 6.5 level of grammatical accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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