Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-31

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)

According to first table the population of NEW YORK city has been explained. According to this the population of five districts in the 18 century is 79216. But in the 19 century population has increases rapidly and reached up to [redacted phone] which is a massive change. In the 20 century the growth has reached up to [redacted phone] which is huge growth of five districts. So growth of these districts has been increase rapidly in every century. So according to second table there is a difference between Manhattan and other four districts. Population of Manhattan is 60515 and other four districts has 18701 in 18 century. In 19 century Manhattan has population of [redacted phone] and and districts has [redacted phone]. So in 20 century Manhattan has population of [redacted phone] and other districts has population of [redacted phone]. so population of Manhattan district is far greater than other four district of NEW YORK city.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the task by summarizing the population data for New York City and its districts. However, the analysis is limited. You have correctly identified the overall growth trend, but the reporting of figures is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical overview. The comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is attempted, but the interpretation of the data is slightly inaccurate (e.g., referring to the 1800s as the '18 century'). To improve, ensure you group data logically and provide a clear summary of the main trends rather than listing figures in a mechanical way. The response covers the main features but lacks the depth required for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into two paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the flow of ideas is quite mechanical. You rely heavily on repetitive sentence starters like 'According to...' and 'In [x] century...'. There is a lack of varied cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly. For example, the transition between the general city population and the district-specific data is abrupt. To improve, use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') to connect your sentences and ensure the progression of information feels more natural and less like a list of facts.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You frequently use basic words such as 'growth', 'population', and 'increase'. While these are accurate in context, the lack of variety makes the writing feel simplistic. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'has increases' (should be 'has increased') and the confusion between centuries and decades/years. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data description, such as 'surged', 'fluctuated', 'accounted for', or 'a significant proportion'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('population has increases') and missing articles ('According to first table'). Additionally, the phrasing '18 century' is incorrect for the years 1800-2000, which are the 19th and 20th centuries. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic tense consistency and ensuring that articles (a, an, the) are used correctly before nouns.

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