Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-07

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 given tables indicate the changes in the population of New York city and the variance shown by its various districts over two centuries.

Overall, the population of the city increased drastically, with district Manhattan showing drastic increase from 1800s all the way to the end of the 19th century only to be overtaken by the other districts in the 20th century.

The total population of the New York city was only 79 thousand which tripled by the end of the 1900s and was recorded to be 8 million in the twentieth century. Moreover, Manhattan has been the greatest contributor to the rise in the popultion of the city until 1900s, with over 54% of the total population being from this district, while the other districts contributed only 46%, collectively. On the other hand, at the beginning of the twentieth century this scale was topled and the other districts like Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island overtook Manhatten and recorded the highest population of 81% of the total city's census, altogether, and Manhatten recorded the lowest population of its histroy with only 19% residents.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main pattern: New York’s population grew substantially, Manhattan’s share fell, and the other districts became dominant by 2000. The comparison of 54% versus 46% in 1900 and 19% versus 81% in 2000 is relevant and accurately reported. However, the overview says Manhattan increased “all the way to the end of the 19th century,” but its population then fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000; this change is not clearly quantified. The total-population description is also inaccurate: it did not “triple” by 1900, and the 2000 figure is not simply a twentieth-century value without a clear comparison. More precise reporting of these changes would make the key features fuller and clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall shape, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to supporting comparisons. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “Moreover,” and “On the other hand” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, the final paragraph places several comparisons into one long sentence, making the shift from Manhattan’s 1900 share to the 2000 figures harder to follow. “This scale was topled” also leaves the reference unclear, and the time references (“until 1900s” and “at the beginning of the twentieth century”) do not consistently distinguish the 1900 and 2000 data. Separate the figures by year and use clearer references to improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing trends and comparisons, including “contributor,” “collectively,” “overtook,” and “recorded.” These choices communicate the broad pattern, and the response remains understandable. However, some wording is imprecise or unnatural for statistical reporting: “the variance shown by its various districts,” “the scale was topled,” and “the city’s census” do not express the intended comparisons clearly. There are also spelling errors, including “popultion,” “Manhatten,” and “histroy,” and “drastic” is repeated. Aim for accurate collocations such as “population share,” “reversed,” and “accounted for,” and check spelling carefully. This would make the vocabulary more precise and controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including the overview clause “with district Manhattan showing…” and the contrast introduced by “while.” Most of the meaning is recoverable, but some grammatical choices reduce clarity. For example, “the total population … was only 79 thousand which tripled” lacks punctuation before the relative clause and gives an unclear comparison; “at the beginning of the twentieth century” also does not fit the 2000 figures. The sentence beginning “Moreover, Manhattan…” is long and contains several linked clauses, so its structure becomes difficult to control. Use shorter sentences to report each year, and check articles, clause boundaries, and tense consistency. These changes would improve accuracy while retaining your attempts at complex forms.

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