Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-30

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 tables presents the changes

in population in New york city and its districts throughout the period between 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the first table give a big picture of how population number in New York had changed overtime in the 19th to the 21th century, while the next two tables focused more on the population numbers in the 5 districts themselves.

Starting with first table, which clearly shows that the population number in New York including its 5 districts has significantly increased from the 19th century to the 20th by about 3 millions and 350 thousands people and it doubled with the 21th century which reached an 8 million people living in New York by the year 2000.

Moving to New York districts, and beginning with Manhattan who had 76% of the total population back in 1800s which faced an elevation of people living in it with a clear jump in numbers between the 19th and 20th centuries, then a slight decrease in 2000. But the table also showed a declining number

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response attempts to summarise the data but fails to complete the task. The description of the districts is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence. While the main features of the total population are identified, the comparison of the five districts is severely underdeveloped. The response lacks a clear overview of the trends across all districts, and the data reporting is inconsistent. To improve, ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed, provide a complete analysis of the provided data, and ensure the response is finished logically rather than cutting off.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the final paragraph. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Overall' and 'Starting with', but they are somewhat mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the districts. The abrupt ending significantly impacts the overall coherence of the piece, as the reader is left without a concluding summary or a full analysis of the final data points.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'big picture' and 'clear jump' are informal and lack the precision required for an Academic Task 1 report. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'elevation of people' instead of 'increase in population'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meaning but lacks the flexibility and precision needed for a higher band score. Focusing on more academic reporting verbs and nouns would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Subject-verb agreement is inconsistent, such as 'The tables presents' and 'the first table give'. Punctuation is also problematic, with missing commas and incorrect capitalisation (e.g., 'New york city'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and the attempt at complex structures is often marred by errors. The incomplete final sentence further demonstrates a lack of control over sentence construction. Improving basic accuracy and proofreading for subject-verb agreement is essential.

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