Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-11
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 tables illustrate the changes in the total population of New York City and separately the population of the five regions in the city - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island over two centuries, from 1800 to 2000. From an overall perspective, it is clear that the population of Manhattan represented very little of the total population by the year 2000.
In 1800, the aggregate of population in the five districts was 79216, before rising sharply to reach [redacted phone] around 1900, where the number of people in Manhattan accounted just above the half of the total population, while other districts represented only 46 % of the city's population.
By the year 2000, the population in New York City continued to increase dramatically until it reached [redacted phone]. In contrast to 1900, Manhattan lost its peak and remained no longer the highest district in the city after considerably dropping to represent just 19% of the total population, whereas other districts accounted a significant percentage of population which is 81% of the city of New York.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the total population growth and the shift in the proportion of residents in Manhattan versus the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat limited. While you identify the 1800 and 2000 figures, you overlook the intermediate data points (such as 1900) which show the trend more clearly. Furthermore, the description of the other districts is overly generalized as a single group, failing to highlight the specific growth patterns of individual boroughs like Brooklyn or Queens, which are clearly provided in the tables. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed breakdown of the key trends across all categories provided in the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction and two body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. Cohesive devices such as 'In 1800', 'By the year 2000', and 'In contrast to' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, the referencing is occasionally slightly mechanical, and the transition between the total population data and the district-specific data could be smoother. The overall structure is clear, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a coherent response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'aggregate', 'dramatically', and 'accounted for'. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'Manhattan lost its peak' (which is not a standard collocation) and 'accounted a significant percentage' (which should be 'accounted for'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score. Expanding your repertoire of reporting verbs and comparative phrases would be beneficial.
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 'the aggregate of population' (should be 'the total population'), 'accounted just above the half' (should be 'accounted for just over half'), and 'remained no longer the highest' (should be 'was no longer the highest'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will help improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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