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 table illustrate changes in the population of New York as a whole and its five districts between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, New York City's population increased dramatically over the two centuries. Although Manhattan accounted for the largest proportion of the city's population in1800 and remained the most populous district in 1900 , its share declined considerably by 2000. In contrast, the other four districts experienced substantial growth and became home to the vast majorty of the city's residents.

In 1800, the total population of New York City was relatively small, at 79216 . Of this figure 60,525 people lived in Manhattan representing 76% of the total . The remaining districts, namely Brooklyn , the Bronx , Queens and staten Island , had a combined population of just 18701, equivalent to 24% .

Over the following century, the city population rosee sharply to [redacted phone] in 1900. Manhattan's population increased significantly to [redacted phone] while the combined population of the other districts reached [redacted phone] . Despite Manhattan remaining the largest population of the other districts reached [redacted phone] . Despite Manhattan remaining the largest population center , its share of the total fell from 76% to 54% whereas the proportion living in the other disricts rose to 46%.

By 2000 , the overall population had more than doubled compared with 1900. reaching [redacted phone]. However Manhattan population decreased to [redacted phone] and its proportion dropped dramatically to only 19 % . Meanwhile, the other four districts experienced remarkable growth , with their combined population climbing to [redacted phone], accounting for 81% of all New York City residents.

In conclusion, while NewYork City's population grew substantially throughout the period , population growth increasingly shifted away from Manhattan towards the other four districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response selects the main trends and supports them with relevant figures: the city grows from 79,216 to 8,009,185, while Manhattan’s share falls from 76% to 19% and the other districts’ share rises to 81%. The overview clearly identifies this shift, and the comparisons across all three years address the task well. There are, however, a few accuracy and clarity issues: the 1800 Manhattan figure is given as 60,525 rather than 60,515, and the 1900 discussion repeats a clause, making the comparison harder to follow. The conclusion restates the central trend effectively, though it adds little beyond the overview. More careful checking of figures and removal of the duplicated material would make the reporting more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction and overview are followed by chronological paragraphs for 1800, 1900 and 2000, then a brief conclusion. Linking expressions such as “Over the following century,” “By 2000” and “In contrast” help guide the reader through the comparisons. The main disruption is in the 1900 paragraph, where “Despite Manhattan remaining the largest…” is repeated and the sentence becomes incomplete or tangled before the comparison resumes. Some spacing around punctuation is also inconsistent, which slightly interrupts the presentation. Keep the chronological structure, but proofread for duplicated clauses and ensure each contrast is expressed once in a complete sentence.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

There is a useful range of task-appropriate vocabulary, including “accounted for,” “combined population,” “proportion,” “climbing” and “shifted away from.” These choices help describe both population size and changing shares. The response also attempts more formal phrasing, although some word choices and spelling slips reduce precision: “the largest population” is less natural than “the largest population centre,” and “vast majorty” and “disricts” are misspelled. “Population rosee sharply” also contains a spelling error. At this level, meaning remains clear, but accuracy and natural collocation are not consistent enough for greater flexibility. Check spelling carefully and favour precise, conventional expressions for describing population trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including contrast clauses with “Although” and “while,” and the sentence comparing the changing shares is structurally ambitious. Most of the data remains understandable, but some grammatical and punctuation errors persist. For example, “The table illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, and “However Manhattan population decreased” needs a possessive form and clearer punctuation. The 2000 sentence beginning “By 2000, the overall population had more than doubled compared with 1900. reaching…” incorrectly separates the participial phrase from the sentence. The repeated “Despite…” clause in the 1900 paragraph also leaves the structure unclear. Review agreement, possessives and sentence boundaries, especially in longer sentences.

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