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 are 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 occurred in 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 years later the population increased significantly to 3,437,202 where more than a half of the proportion lived in Manhattan making this district most populous among the five.
However, the overall number reached to more than 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 a high rise in Manhattan in the first two years, it dramatically fell in the 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall growth of New York City and the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other four districts. However, there are inaccuracies in the interpretation of the data. For instance, the statement that the population 'dramatically fell' in Manhattan in 2000 is incorrect; the table shows the population actually increased in absolute numbers (from 1,850,093 in 1900 to 1,538,096 in 2000 is a decrease, but the phrasing 'dramatically fell' is an overstatement given the context of the total growth). Additionally, the summary of the 'other four cities' reaching 81% is slightly confusingly phrased. More precise reporting of the specific figures would improve the task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the chronological progression. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'In which', and 'A hundred years later' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'the other four cities' (when they are districts, not cities). The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the logical flow between the data points could be smoother to better highlight the comparisons requested in the prompt.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with attempts at using terms like 'populous', 'proportion', and 'inhabitants'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, referring to the districts as 'cities' is factually incorrect in this context. The phrase 'most famous place to reside' is slightly informal and not entirely accurate based on the data provided. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'reached to more than a double' (should be 'more than doubled') and 'in the 2000' (should be 'in 2000'). The sentence 'The total population shifts... are displayed in the first table and the other two tables show...' is a bit run-on. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. A greater variety of error-free complex structures would be needed for a band 7.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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