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 tables show the changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables depict the changes in the proportion of the five districts of the city, namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, over the same period.
Overall, it can be seen that New York City had the highest population in 2000 and the lowest population in 1800. Meanwhile, the proportion of Manhattan decreased, whereas the proportion of the other districts increased over the same period.
To begin with, the population of New York City reached 8,009,185 in 2000. In 1800 and 1900, the population was approximately 79,216 and 3,437,202 respectively.
On the other hand, Manhattan had a total population of 60,515 in 1800, accounting for 76% of the city's population. In 1900 and 2000, its population was approximately 1,850,093 and 1,538,096, representing 54% and 19% respectively. Accordingly, the other districts had a population of 18,701, accounting for around 24% in 1800. In 2000, the population of the other districts reached 6,471,089, representing 81% of the total population. Finally, in 1900, they accounted for 1,587,109 people, or 46% of the total.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data well. You successfully identified the overall trend of population growth and the shift in the proportion of residents living in Manhattan versus the other districts. However, the task requires reporting on the five districts mentioned in the prompt. By grouping Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island into a single category labeled 'the other districts,' you missed the opportunity to highlight specific trends for these individual areas, which is a key requirement for a high-scoring response. To improve, ensure you provide specific data points for each category mentioned in the prompt rather than aggregating them, as this provides a more comprehensive summary of the provided tables.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information by time and category. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile,' 'To begin with,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Accordingly' helps guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the general population trends from the specific district proportions. The flow of information is generally smooth, though the transition between the general population data and the district-specific data could be slightly more refined to improve the overall cohesion of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'depict the changes,' 'accounting for,' and 'representing' are used accurately. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the reliance on 'population' and 'districts.' To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied synonyms or descriptive language to avoid repeating the same terms. For example, instead of repeating 'population' multiple times, you could use 'inhabitants,' 'residents,' or 'demographic figures.' The current range is adequate for the task but lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. You successfully used complex structures, such as 'Manhattan had a total population of 60,515 in 1800, accounting for 76% of the city's population.' There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To improve further, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence forms, such as using more passive voice constructions or varied subordinate clauses to describe the data trends, which would demonstrate a higher level of grammatical control.
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