Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-24
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 provided table illustrates the changes in the total population of New York City and it's distribution of five districts named Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, it is crystal clear that population of New York City steadily grown in time period of 200 year, while Manhattan showed the decline of the total population .
At a fleeting glance, in 1800 population of all five districts was 79,216 which grew up to 3,437,202 in 100 years. Moreover, there is sharply rise in percentage of the population in other districts that was from 24% to 81% in the time period of 200-years. In contrast, there is rapidly drop of total population as percentage in Manhattan.
Moving ahead, in 1900 populace of other districts was 1,587,109 which incline to 6,471,089 in last year with percentage 24% and 81% respectively. Furthermore, the difference between percentage of total population in 1800 and 1900 in the other districts was exactly of 22%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the data, such as the overall growth of the population and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and contains inaccuracies regarding the data interpretation. For instance, the claim that Manhattan showed a decline in total population is not supported by the provided tables, which show growth in all districts, albeit at different rates. The summary of the percentage changes is also confusingly presented. To improve, ensure that the data is read accurately and that the comparison between the districts is clearly explained with precise figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the logical progression is hindered by unclear referencing and awkward transitions. Phrases like 'Moving ahead' and 'At a fleeting glance' are used somewhat mechanically and do not always fit the academic context. Additionally, the connection between the sentences in the final paragraph is weak, making it difficult to follow the comparison being made. Using a wider range of cohesive devices more naturally would improve the flow and clarity of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward collocations. For example, 'steadily grown' should be 'steadily grew' or 'has steadily grown', and 'sharply rise' should be 'a sharp rise'. The term 'populace' is used incorrectly in this context; 'population' would be more appropriate. There is a limited range of vocabulary, and the repetition of basic structures limits the ability to convey the information with precision. Focusing on accurate collocations and more varied reporting verbs would enhance the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include incorrect article usage (e.g., 'the decline of the total population'), subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'population... steadily grown'), and punctuation mistakes (e.g., 'it's' instead of 'its'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring consistent verb tenses would be beneficial.
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