Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-01

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 compare changes in the total population of New York city and the distribution of residents between Manhattan and the other four districts (Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island )in 1800,1900 and 2000.

Overall, New York city's populationincresed dramatically over the 200 year period.Although Manhattan remained the largest district in term of populatio, its share of the city's total population of declined considerably,while the combined population of the ither four districs grew steadily and eventually accounted for majority of thr residents.

in 1800,New York city had a population of only 79,219 people. Of these .60,515 lived inManhattan ,respresenting 76% of total,whereas the remaining districts had just 18,701 residents ,or 24%.

In 1900, the city population had risen sharply to 3,437,202.Manhattan's population increased to 1,850,093,although its proportion fell to 54%.At the same time,the combined population of Brooklyn,the Bronx ,Queens and staten Island reached 1,5

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. Furthermore, the response is incomplete, cutting off abruptly in the middle of a sentence regarding the 1900 data. While the introduction and overview are clear and identify the main trends, the failure to complete the description of the 1900 data and the total omission of the 2000 data mean that the task is only partially addressed. To improve, ensure all data points are covered and the response is fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction and an overview. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'while', and 'whereas' are used to contrast the data between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the flow and coherence of the final section. The use of paragraphing is appropriate, but the lack of completion in the final paragraph prevents a higher score. Improving the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs would further enhance the logical progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'dramatically', 'considerably', and 'accounted for'. However, there are several spelling errors (e.g., 'populatio', 'incresed', 'ither', 'districs', 'thr') and punctuation issues (e.g., missing spaces after commas and periods). These errors are noticeable and detract from the overall quality of the writing. To reach a higher band, focus on proofreading for spelling accuracy and ensuring consistent use of academic terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses starting with 'Although'. However, there are frequent errors in punctuation, such as missing spaces after punctuation marks and incorrect capitalization. There are also minor grammatical slips, such as 'share of the city's total population of declined'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the clarity of the text. More attention to sentence-level accuracy and punctuation is required.

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