Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-07
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 illustrates the change in total population of New York City while the other two tables compare the population change in Manhattan and the four districts from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the total population increased significantly over the years. Furthermore, in Manhattan the population experienced a peak in 1900 before a decline in 2000 while the four districts rose dramatically in the given time period and reaching the highest in 2000.
Firstly, the total population climbed over the years from 79,216 in 1800 to 3,437,202 in 1900 then it reached its peak at 8,009,185 in 2000. Consequently, the population in Manhattan rose from 60,515 in 1800 and reached its peak at 1,850,093 in 1900 and soon fell to 1,538,096 in 2000. In addition, it experienced a declining percentage from 76% in 1800 to 19% in 2000.
Secondly, the population of the four districts namely Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island climbed from 18,701 in 1800 to 6,471,089 in 2000. Moreover, its percentage increased from 24% in 1800 to 81% in 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview. You have successfully selected and reported the key data points, such as the peak in Manhattan's population in 1900 and the contrasting growth in the four districts. The comparison between the total population and the specific districts is well-handled. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention all five districts as requested in the prompt, rather than grouping them as 'the four districts' throughout, as this simplifies the data slightly more than necessary. Overall, the information is accurate and the main features are well-highlighted.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', and 'In addition' to link your points. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the use of 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' is a bit rigid for a short report. Improving the variety of linking phrases and ensuring that the relationship between the tables is more fluidly integrated would enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'increased significantly', 'rose dramatically', and 'experienced a peak' are appropriate for describing data. There is some repetition of basic verbs like 'climbed' and 'rose'. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for growth and decline, such as 'surged', 'plummeted', or 'underwent a shift'. The use of percentages is accurate and adds precision to your report, which is a positive feature of your lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which ensures that communication is never impeded. There are minor issues, such as the phrasing 'reaching the highest in 2000', which would be better as 'reaching its highest point in 2000'. Additionally, the sentence 'the population in Manhattan rose... and soon fell' is grammatically sound but could be more sophisticated. You have good control over punctuation and basic grammar, but increasing the variety of complex structures would help elevate the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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