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 provide information about the changes in the total population of New York City and its five districts between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, New York City saw a massive surge in the number of immigrants over the years. Manhattan accounted for more than half of the population of the city in 1900. However, other districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten island attracted a lot more immigrants in later years making up 81% of the total population by 2000.

In 1800, Manhattan made up 76% of the total population of the New York City, while its surrounding districts accounted for about 24%. Similarly, in 1900, Manhattan underwent a significant fall in population making up 54% of total population, while population in other districts surged rapidly to 46%.

Moreover, with lack of significant opportunities in 2000, the population of Manhattan plummeted to 19%, while other districts made up 81% in the same period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a clear overview and selects key data points to illustrate the shift in population distribution. However, the analysis is somewhat limited. While you correctly identify the shift from Manhattan to the other districts, you rely heavily on percentages without discussing the actual population figures provided in the first table, which show a massive increase in the total population from 60,515 to 8,008,278. Additionally, the term 'immigrants' is used throughout the text, but the prompt only refers to 'population' and 'districts'; assuming these are all immigrants is an unsupported inference. To reach a higher band, ensure you incorporate the raw data figures and avoid making assumptions not supported by the provided text.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and supporting body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'However', and 'Moreover' to link your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. To improve, ensure that the transition between the general trend and the specific data points is smoother, and try to vary the cohesive devices to avoid a slightly mechanical feel in the structure of your sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'massive surge', 'plummeted', and 'accounted for' to describe trends. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as the repeated use of 'immigrants' where 'residents' or 'population' would be more accurate based on the prompt. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Incorporating more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, 'Manhattan underwent a significant fall in population making up 54% of total population' is clear, though it could be punctuated better with a comma before 'making'. You have good control over basic grammar, but to achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or more sophisticated relative clauses, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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