Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-11

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 give information about changes in the total number of people living in New York Ctiy's all five districts, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, with a seperated total population of only Manhattan, and the other four districts, as well as the percentage of their population against the total population, from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the population of New York City has skyrocketed by astonishing amount throughout the three centuries, with Manhattan dominating in the the first century, and the other states during recent times.

In 1800, the total population of New York City was 79,216. Manhattan consisted of 76% of the total population while rest of the population were from the other four districts. New York City's population sharply rose to 3,437,202 in 1900, and Manhattan was still dominating with 54% of the total population. The other districts' combined population was 1,587,109 during this period.

However, in 2000, the number of people in New York City increased more than double to 8,009,185, with Manhattan accomodating only 19% of the total population. In the contrast, the other four disricts' combined population proportion rose to 81%, almost double than the last century, with a total number of 6,471,089 people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You cover the main changes and provide a clear overview: the city’s population rose substantially, Manhattan held the majority in 1800 and 1900, and the other districts accounted for most residents by 2000. The figures you give for the city total and the district groups are accurate, and the comparison between 54% and 19% for Manhattan is relevant. To make the report more complete, include Manhattan’s actual population in 2000 (1,538,096) and clarify that its population fell from 1,850,093 in 1900, even as the city total continued to grow. Also, “more than double” is accurate but less informative than noting the increase from 3.4 million to about 8 million. These additions would make the key trends more fully supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview and two chronological paragraphs, so the reader can follow the movement from 1800 through 2000. The contrastive transition “However” appropriately signals the shift in the final period, and the repeated references to Manhattan and the other districts keep the comparison clear. Some linking is slightly mechanical, however: “In the contrast” is not a natural transition, and “during this period” could refer more precisely to 1900. The overview also combines the city’s growth and the changing district balance in one sentence, but the comparison could be expressed more directly. Use concise references such as “by 2000” and vary transitions so that connections are clear without sounding formulaic.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing change, including “skyrocketed,” “sharply rose,” “dominating,” and “combined population proportion.” These choices communicate the main trends, and the meaning remains clear despite some inaccurate or awkward expressions. Several spelling errors—“Ctiy's,” “seperated,” “accomodating,” and “disricts”—reduce accuracy. Some collocations are also unnatural: “dominating with 54%” and “almost double than the last century” do not express the comparisons idiomatically. “States” is inaccurate for the city’s districts, and “astonishing amount” is less suitable for a population figure. Aim for precise, neutral report language and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including the opening sentence with several descriptive clauses and the contrastive sentence beginning “In the contrast.” Most of the numerical information is presented in understandable sentences, and errors do not prevent the reader from following the report. Some grammatical problems remain. In “while rest of the population were,” the article is missing and the singular collective noun requires a different verb construction. “In the contrast” also has an incorrect article pattern, while “increased more than double” uses an inaccurate comparative structure. The opening sentence is long and difficult to control, with several ideas crowded together. Build shorter, clearer sentences and check articles, agreement and comparative forms.

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