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 first table indicates the change in the population of American city from 1800 to 2000. The other two tables represent the changes in five different districts of the city.

Overall,after every decade the population of New York was increased. Whereas,ratio of the population in manhattan was decreased.

To begin with , in year 1800 population of New York was 79,216. Next, number of total people in New York was 3,437,202 in year 1900 and in 2000 population was 8,009,185.

Moreover, in 1800, 60,515 of people were living in Manhattan which was accounted for 76%.Furthermore, the population of Manhattan in next decade was decreased and in 2000, 1,538,096 of individuals were living there , its ratio was recorded 19%.

In addition, the population of other five districts was increased by very large number of people in every decade. Which was 18,701 with 24%

in first decade , 1,587,109 with 46% in second and 6,471,089 in year 2000 respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main trends in the population of New York and its districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you correctly identify the overall growth and the decline in Manhattan's percentage share, the data presentation is inconsistent. For instance, you mention 'other five districts' but the data provided for these is confusing and does not clearly reflect the specific figures for Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island as shown in the tables. To reach a higher band, ensure that all key features are accurately reported and that comparisons between the districts are more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression is hindered by the unclear presentation of data in the final paragraph. Referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as when you refer to 'other five districts' when the table lists them individually. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would improve the coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the trends using terms like 'population', 'ratio', and 'recorded'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'accounted for' (should be 'accounted for' or 'represented') and 'increased by very large number of people'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate more precise reporting verbs and nouns related to statistical trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'proportion'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('in year 1800', 'in next decade'), incorrect verb forms ('was increased', 'was decreased'), and punctuation issues (spacing before commas). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall clarity. To achieve a higher score, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, and try to vary your sentence structures with more complex clauses.

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