Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-19

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 first table illutrates how the population of New York City changed between 1800 to 2000 and the second and third tables depict the population change among five districts namely, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx Queens, Staten Island from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the population has significantly increased in all five districts of New York City over time. Initially, Manhattan had the highest population among other districts which became close in 1900 and by 2000 the population of the rest of the districts surpassed Manhattan.

New York population rose three times more in 1900 and eight times in number as compared to 1800. Among the districts, in 1800, Manhattan population was at 76% as compared to 24% in other districts collectively (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island). In 1900, the gap between the populations were narrowed down (54% Manhattan and 46% other districts). Moreover, by 2000, the population percentage in other districts rose to 81% which crossed Manhattan's which was 19%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main pattern clearly: Manhattan dominated in 1800, its share narrowed toward the other districts by 1900, and the other districts had a much larger share by 2000. The percentages you report match the tables, and your overview gives the reader a useful summary. To make the account more complete, include the total population figures and the actual district populations, especially the striking rise in the city total from 79,216 to 8,009,185. Also, the overview says population increased in all five districts, but Manhattan’s population fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000. Clarifying that distinction and developing the numerical comparisons would make the key features more fully supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph comparing the figures across the three years. The progression from the city-wide trend to the changing district shares is logical, and phrases such as “In 1900” and “by 2000” help orient the reader. Some links and references are less precise, however. “New York population rose three times more in 1900 and eight times in number” is difficult to interpret, and “the gap between the populations” does not specify whether you mean population totals or percentages. The final paragraph also combines several comparisons in a dense sequence. Use clearer transitions and separate the city total from the district-share comparison to make the progression more controlled.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “significantly increased,” “surpassed,” “collectively,” and “percentage,” and the meaning is generally clear. There is some range, but a few word choices and collocations are imprecise: “rose three times more” and “eight times in number” do not express the comparison naturally, while “population change among five districts” is less precise than describing their populations. There are also spelling and punctuation slips, such as “illutrates” and the missing comma in “Bronx Queens.” Aim for standard data-reporting phrases and check spelling carefully. More precise wording would help you describe both absolute population figures and percentage shares without ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the overview sentence beginning “Initially” and the time clauses “which became close in 1900” and “by 2000.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors reduce precision. In the opening, “changed between 1800 to 2000” mixes two preposition patterns; use “changed from 1800 to 2000” or “changed between 1800 and 2000.” The phrase “Manhattan population was at 76%” needs a possessive or article, and “the gap between the populations were narrowed down” has agreement and construction problems. Review articles, possessives, and subject–verb agreement, and aim for a few accurate complex comparisons alongside your simpler sentences.

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