Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-10

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 6.0)

The three tables provide information about the overall population increases during 1800 to 2000, where the first data sheet is about the total amount of citizen of all five newyork city zones, the second and thrid one define Manhattan districts and other four zones as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island's information.

One noticeable feature of every table is that all areas total population increased rapidly in between 1800 year to 1900 year and in the next 100 years there was also a significant inclined rate in population but it could not match the previous 100 years.

The first table displays that in 1800 there were only 79,216 citizens in Newyork, which increased more than four times in next hundred years and in 1900, the total population of Newyork was 3,437,202. Even in next century, the population increased by double which resulted in greater than eight million citizens.

Moreover, the last two tables shows that even though in all districts population had been increased, there was a significant change in distribution. In 1800, almost three fourth of the total public lived in manhattan district, but it decreased by close to half of the total populace in 1900 and lastly, in 2000 there were on only 19% citizen left in Mnahattan districts. Conversely, since people move to other districts the total population of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island which only start with 24% get almost doubled in 1900 and rise dramatically in 2000, where more that 80% Newyork citizens are staying in these districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main trends accurately: the city’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other four districts’ share grew. The figures you include for 1800 and 1900, and the 19% and over-80% shares in 2000, are broadly consistent with the tables. Your overview is clear, and the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is relevant. To make the report more complete, state the 2000 total more precisely (8,009,185) and note that Manhattan’s population itself peaked in 1900 before declining to 1,538,096, even as the city continued to grow. The claim that the other districts’ share “almost doubled” in 1900 is imprecise: it rose from 24% to 46%. These details would make the key comparisons more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable progression: an introduction, an overview, then details about the total population and district distribution. Linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “Conversely” help signal the shift between comparisons, and the reader can follow the broad argument. However, the first sentence is overloaded with table descriptions, and the overview repeats the general increase without clearly separating population totals from population shares. Some connections are also imprecise: “since people move to other districts” presents a cause that the tables do not establish, while “which only start with 24%” has an unclear reference. Use shorter, focused paragraphs and connect each figure directly to the trend it demonstrates to make progression smoother and cohesion less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic vocabulary, including “overall population,” “distribution,” “significant change,” and “Conversely,” so the main information is generally understandable. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a formal data report: “total amount of citizen,” “inclined rate,” “total public,” and “citizens are staying” do not express the intended ideas precisely. Spelling and word-form slips such as “newyork,” “thrid,” and “Mnahattan” also reduce control. Prefer standard collocations such as “population,” “population share,” “increased,” and “accounted for.” More precise vocabulary would help distinguish an increase in the number of residents from a change in their proportion of the city’s population.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning “even though” and “where,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “the last two tables shows” should use a plural verb, while “all areas total population increased” needs a clearer possessive or rephrasing. The sentence beginning “In 1800, almost three fourth…” also shifts awkwardly between past and present forms, and “there were on only 19% citizen left” has problems with word order and plural agreement. Review subject–verb agreement and keep past-tense reporting consistent. Breaking long sentences into clearer units would also improve accuracy without limiting your range.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.