Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-12

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 three tables illustrate the changes in New York's total population and compares population of Manhattan with other four districts of thr city namely, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, the population of New York city experienced dramatic change in the total population over the time. While Manhattan's populace increased before decreasing by the final year, it's share in the total population decreased considerably throughout the time. Additionally,ther four districts followed an opposite trend.

The total population of New York city increased significantly from 79,216 to 3,437,202 in 1900, before peaking at 8,009,185 in 2000. Furthermore, Manhattan's populace increased from 60,515 in 1800 to 1,850,093 in 1900 and then declined slightly to 1,538,096. Meanwhile, the percentage of the total population of Manhattan decreased considerably from 76% to 54% and 19%, respectively.

In contrast, the share in total population of other four districts increased from 21% in 1800 to 46% in 1900 and then surged to 81% by the final year. the number of people living in those districts rose from 18,701 to 6,471,089 by the year 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall patterns: the city’s population grew substantially, Manhattan’s population rose and then fell, and its share of the total declined. The key figures for the city and Manhattan are accurate, and the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is relevant. However, one important figure is misreported: the other districts accounted for 24%, not 21%, in 1800. The final paragraph also gives their population only for 2000, leaving the 1900 figure unreported, and the overview’s claim that the total population “peaked” is less precise than saying it continued to rise to its highest recorded level. This covers the task well overall, but some comparisons are less fully developed; accurate figures and a fuller account of the other districts would strengthen it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised into a clear introduction, overview and two detail paragraphs, with a sensible progression from the overall population to Manhattan and then the other districts. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Furthermore” and “In contrast” help signal the relationships between points, and the contrast between Manhattan’s falling share and the other districts’ rising share is easy to follow. Some connections are less smooth: “Additionally,ther four districts” contains a spacing/typing slip, and the final paragraph shifts from percentage share to population without reporting the intermediate 1900 population. The repeated use of “population” and “share” also makes the flow somewhat formulaic. More precise transitions and a consistent comparison of both population and percentage across the years would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “dramatic change,” “declined,” “percentage” and “surged,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at less common wording, such as “populace,” but this is not the most natural choice in a formal data report; “population” is clearer and more precise. Some collocations are awkward, including “experienced dramatic change in the total population” and “share in total population.” The phrase “other four districts” is understandable but less natural than “the other districts.” Spelling and typing also need attention: “thr” and “ther” appear where “the” is intended. Aim for accurate, conventional reporting language rather than substituting elevated-sounding words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex structures, including a contrast clause beginning “While Manhattan’s populace increased…” and a sentence with “before” to describe the city’s growth. Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical errors are present. In the opening sentence, “tables illustrate … and compares” has a subject–verb agreement problem; use “illustrate … and compare.” The overview’s “it's share” should be “its share,” and “Additionally,ther” needs a space. The final paragraph begins a new sentence with lowercase “the.” There is also a tense inconsistency in “increased … before peaking,” since the figures describe completed historical years; “and then reached” would be more consistent. Careful proofreading and more consistently controlled sentence forms would improve accuracy.

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