Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-13
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 first table illustrates the information about the New York city's gross population In the year 1800, 1900 and 2000. The second and third table demonstrates the information about the changes took place in different districts of city over same time period.
Overall, New York city's population outgrown throughout the time period. Additionally Manhattan district of the city had the highest population in the year 1900, however it contributed highest percentage to the population in 1800, and the other four districts all together had both highest population and percentage of population the year 2000.
To begin with, first table shows New York city keep getting populated throughout the time period. It was 79,216 in year 1800 While it get to 3,437,202 in the year 1900 and became most populated in 2000 with 8,009,185 citizens.
Additionally, one of the five districts of New York city named Manhattan contributed highest percentage of total population in the year 1800, which was 76% with 60,515. Whereas least percentage of total population was in the year 2000 with 19% and 1,538,096 total people. The rest of the four districts' total population was least in 1800 which was 24% with 18,701 population, whereas the highest was in 2000 with 81% and 6,471,089 population.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall population growth and the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other four districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you correctly identify the growth trends, the comparison between the districts could be more detailed. For instance, you mention the 'other four districts' as a group, but the prompt provides data for each, and a more nuanced comparison of their individual growth trajectories would have strengthened the response. The overview is present but could be more clearly integrated to highlight the most significant trends rather than just stating that the population 'outgrown'.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'To begin with', and 'Whereas' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly forced. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the tables could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general population trends from the specific district data, which helps the reader follow the structure of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'keep getting populated' and 'outgrown' are slightly unnatural or grammatically incorrect in this context. You rely on basic descriptors and repetitive phrasing when discussing the data. To improve, you should incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to trends and statistics, such as 'experienced significant growth', 'accounted for', or 'a marked shift in distribution'. There are no major spelling errors, but the range of vocabulary is limited.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'the New York city's gross population' (article error), 'changes took place' (missing relative pronoun), and 'it contributed highest percentage' (missing article). Additionally, 'While it get to' shows an error in verb tense and subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. More attention to articles, verb tenses, and sentence construction is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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