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)
The total population shifts of New York City between 1800 and 2000 is displayed in the first table and the other two tables show changes of inhabitants of five districts of the city namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island over the given time period.
Overall, the total population in New York City has increased significantly over the years where most of it occured in the Manhattan in 1800 and 1900. However, the number of residents increased in the other four cities in the final year reaching 81%.
The total number in the year 1800 was 79,216 in which 76% of them lived in Manhattan alone. A hundred year later the population increased significantly to 3,437,202 where more than a half of the proportion lived in Manhattan making this districts most populous among the five.
However, the overall number reached to more that a double in the year 2000 making it 8,009,185, of which 81% (6,471,089) of the people started living in the other four districts leaving only 19% (1,538,096) of the people in Manhattan which was previously the most famous place to reside. As the number experienced high rise in Manhattan in the first two years, it dramatically had fallen in the 2000.
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, such as the overall population growth and the shift in distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat inaccurate regarding the data. For instance, the claim that 81% of the population lived in the other four districts in 2000 is a misinterpretation of the table, which shows the percentage of the total population for each district individually, not a combined total. Furthermore, the statement that the population 'dramatically had fallen' in Manhattan by 2000 is incorrect, as the data shows an increase in absolute numbers, even if the percentage share decreased. The report would benefit from more precise data selection and accurate interpretation of the figures provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Overall', and 'In which' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'where most of it occured in the Manhattan in 1800 and 1900'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when discussing the percentages of the districts. While the paragraphing is functional, the progression of ideas could be smoother to ensure a more professional academic tone.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision. There are several instances of unnatural word choice, such as 'total population shifts' instead of 'population trends' and 'the other four cities' when referring to districts. The phrase 'high rise' is used incorrectly in this context, as it usually refers to buildings rather than statistical growth. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'most of it occured in the Manhattan' (missing article/preposition usage), 'making this districts most populous' (plural/singular agreement), and 'reached to more that a double' (incorrect verb usage and spelling). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the frequency of errors in basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement prevents the response from reaching a higher band. The errors do not completely impede communication, but they are noticeable throughout.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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