Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 gives a comparison about the total population of New York City at 100-year intervals while the second and third table displays the number of inhabitants as well as the percentage of total demography of the five districts of the city over the same period.

Overall, it can be seen that, the population of New York City showed an upward trend over every 100-year interval, whereas people's preference shifted regarding where to reside in.

In the beginning, in 1800, the population of New York City was 79,216. The number of residents grew approximately fourfold over the 100-year period as in 1900 it was 3,437,202. Then, in a span of another century the number of people doubled registering an amount of 8,009,185 .

As seen in the second and third table, in 1800 residents in Manhattan district was around Sixty-thousand which covered 76% of total population. Although the population may have increased over the next two centuries, the percentage of total population experienced a significant decline at 19% by the millennium. In contrast, other districts saw a markedly increase not only in the number of inhabitants but also in the percentage of population. The proportion of residents in those districts started at 18%, before increasing rapidly to finish at 81% of the total population over a span of two centuries

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall pattern: New York City’s population rose at each date, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share grew. The total figures are accurate, and you include useful comparisons for 1800 and 2000. This meets the task well, but some district details are less fully reported: the response omits the 1900 population and share for both groups, and says Manhattan’s population “may have increased” even though it actually fell from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000. The other districts’ starting share is also given as 18%, rather than 24%. To make the account more complete and precise, report the middle-year figures and distinguish population changes from changes in percentage share.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs covering the city total and district patterns. The sequence from 1800 to 1900 to 2000 is easy to follow, and links such as “In contrast” help signal comparison. However, some cohesion is less controlled. “As seen in the second and third table” is an imprecise reference, and the final paragraph moves between Manhattan’s population and its share without clearly separating those measures. The overview’s phrase “people’s preference shifted” also suggests a cause or choice that the tables do not establish. Use explicit references to the figures or groups, and organise the district comparison around population first and percentage share second.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing change, including “upward trend,” “grew,” “doubled,” “decline,” and “in contrast.” These choices make the main patterns understandable, and you attempt more formal alternatives such as “inhabitants” and “proportion.” Some less common expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, however: “comparison about,” “total demography,” “people’s preference,” and “a markedly increase” do not fit the intended meaning or grammatical form. “Finish at” is also less suitable for a table comparison than “reach.” Aim for precise, conventional collocations in data reporting rather than ornate substitutions; this will make the description more natural while preserving the range you are already attempting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a clear contrast structure with “Although” and a time sequence using “Then.” Most meanings remain clear, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “the second and third table displays” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “residents in Manhattan district was” has agreement and article problems. The comma after “that” in “it can be seen that, the population” is unnecessary, and the spacing before the full stop in “8,009,185 .” is incorrect. The sentence beginning “Although the population may have increased” also uses a modal construction that weakens the factual report. Check agreement, articles, and punctuation, and use direct past-tense statements for the historical figures.

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