Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-03
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 3 table represents the changes in the population of New York City over a period of 200 years between 1800 and 2000 , as well as the changes in the population of the five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) of the New York City over the same period.
At the beginning of the period , the total population of the New York City was 79,216 . After a century , in 1900 the total population showed a significant increase jumping to 3,437,202 . By the end of the period the total population of the New York City was recorded at 8,009,185 . Regarding Manhattan, the population was recorded at 60,515 by the beginning of the period . By the next 100 years , the population of Manhattan rocketed to 1,850,093 which cover the 54% of the total population of New York City . At the end of the second century , the population dropped down to 1,538,096 ,which only covered the 19% of the total population .
In terms for other districts ( Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island),
the population was only 18,701 which covered the 24% of the total population by the beginning of the period . By the next 100 years the population surged at 1,587,109 which was the 46% of the total population of New York City . By the end of the year 2000 the population was at its peak 6,471,098 which cover
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main trends in the total population and the five districts. However, the report is incomplete as it ends abruptly mid-sentence in the final paragraph. While you successfully identified key data points like the 1800 and 2000 figures, the analysis of the districts is unbalanced; you grouped four districts together, which obscures the individual trends for Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide a complete overview and avoid leaving sentences unfinished, as this significantly impacts the clarity of your reporting and the overall task completion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the flow is interrupted by the incomplete ending. Cohesive devices such as 'Regarding' and 'In terms for' are used, but the latter is grammatically incorrect. The referencing is generally clear, but the lack of a concluding summary or a finished final sentence makes the progression feel disjointed. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect your comparisons more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'significant', 'surged', and 'rocketed' to describe trends. However, there are some inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'In terms for' instead of 'In terms of' and 'cover the 54%' where the article 'the' is unnecessary. Some phrasing is slightly repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'total population of the New York City'. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and avoiding unnecessary articles will help you achieve a more natural and precise academic tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'The 3 table represents') and incorrect preposition usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors occur frequently enough to distract the reader. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately will help improve your score. The abrupt ending also leaves a sentence grammatically incomplete, which is a significant issue.
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