Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 given tables illustrate the population of New York City and the percentage distribution across the city's five districts from1800 to 2000.

Overall, it is clear that the number of residents was highest in 2000, whereas the lowest population was recorded in 1800. In addition, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island had a larger population than Manhattan.

The total population of all five districts was highest in 2000, with 8,009,185, while the figure was 3,437,202 residents in 1900. Moreover, the lowest population noticeable in the year 1800, with 79,216 people.

In 1800, 60,515 people represented 76% of the population. Furthermore, the population rose to 1,850,093, accounted for 54% in 1900, while the proportion fell to 19% with a population of 1,538,096. The residents of other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) stood at 18,701, stood at 24% in 1800. The population of the other districts rose from 46% (1,587,109 residents) in 1900 to 81% (6,471,089 residents) in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the data, such as the overall population growth and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the figures for 1800, 1900, and 2000, the comparison between the districts is slightly confusing. For instance, you state that Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island had a larger population than Manhattan, but the data shows this shift occurred over time rather than being a constant state. More precise reporting of the specific trends for each district would have strengthened the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore'. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical. The referencing in the final paragraph is slightly unclear; for example, the transition between the population figures and the percentages is abrupt, making it difficult for the reader to follow the comparison between the districts. Improving the use of cohesive links to connect the data points would enhance the logical progression of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'percentage distribution', 'residents', and 'proportion'. However, there is a lack of variety in your reporting verbs and descriptive language. Some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'lowest population noticeable in the year 1800', which is not idiomatic. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations and avoid repeating the same sentence structures when describing numerical changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that hinder clarity, such as 'accounted for 54% in 1900' (should be 'which accounted for') and 'stood at 18,701, stood at 24% in 1800' (repetitive and grammatically incorrect). Additionally, there is a missing space in 'from1800'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy of the writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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