Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-10

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)

Here we can see a time series representation of the growth of population in New York. The first table shows data inclusive of all 5 states, the second table has data specific to the district of Manhattan whereas the 3rd table contains data for other 4 districts combined (namely Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island). In all of the tables, the time points are the years of 1800, 1900 and 2000.

The data shows us the expected increasing trend of the total population of New York, but with an excellent highlight. We can see that even though the total population has increased, the population of Manhattan has decreased from the year 1900 to the year 2000. This suggests, the population density throughout the 5 districts of New York were initially pinpointed on Manhattan. But in the 20th century, as more and more immigrants have come to New York, the density has spread throughout the other districts as well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to adequately report the main features of the data. While it identifies the general growth trend and the decline in Manhattan, it neglects to provide specific data points (e.g., the total population figures for 1800 or 2000) to support the summary. The task requires a clear overview of the information provided in the tables, but the student focuses on a narrative explanation of population density rather than a factual summary of the provided statistics. Consequently, the response is under-developed and lacks the necessary data-driven comparisons required for an Academic Task 1 report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into two paragraphs, which is a logical structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat limited. The use of cohesive devices is basic, relying on simple connectors like 'The first table' and 'The second table'. The referencing is clear, but the overall flow feels somewhat mechanical. The transition between the description of the tables and the analysis of the trends is functional but lacks the sophisticated linking required for higher bands. Paragraphing is present, but the content within the paragraphs is not sufficiently extended to demonstrate strong cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected for higher bands. Phrases like 'time series representation' and 'expected increasing trend' are functional, but the student relies on somewhat informal or imprecise phrasing such as 'excellent highlight' and 'pinpointed on'. There is little attempt to use less common lexical items or precise terminology related to data analysis (e.g., 'fluctuation', 'proportion', 'significant surge'). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility or sophistication required for a score above 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the population density... were initially pinpointed', where the verb agreement is incorrect. Additionally, 'as more and more immigrants have come' is slightly awkward in this context. While the errors do not impede communication, the range of structures is limited, and the control over complex sentences is not consistent. The punctuation is generally accurate, but the overall grammatical control is at a mid-level, reflecting a basic ability to construct sentences without significant errors.

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

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