Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-15

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 three tables below illustrate the transition in the population of five different regions including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island of New York City in the given time period.

Overall, the total number of residents increased over the time. In terms of the cities, the percentage of the Manhattan city showed a sharp decline from 76% to 19%, while the rest of the districts experienced the opposite trend.

In the first table, considering all the given areas, the figure of residents was 79216 in 1800. And these numbers increased significantly in 1900, which was 3,437,202. Whereas in the last year, this figure reached 8,009,185.

The data in the following tables showed that Manhattan's population was almost three quarters higher (75%) in comparison to the other regions, likewise 60515 in Manhattan and 18701 in other the districts in 1800. Moreover, the figure demonstrates that the data was 1,850,093 in 1900, with a slight decline in the percentage of the total population (54%). Last but not least, the proportion plummeted to 19% and the numbers reached 1,538,096 during the final year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shift in the proportion of residents in Manhattan compared to other districts. However, the response is somewhat unbalanced. While you provide data for the total population and Manhattan, you largely ignore the specific trends for the other four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island), which are essential to a complete summary. To improve, ensure you group these districts or highlight their collective growth more clearly to provide a more comprehensive overview of the data provided in the tables.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression from an overview to specific details. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In terms of', 'Moreover', and 'In the first table', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the connection between the percentages and the specific district names could be more explicit. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'transition', 'sharp decline', 'plummeted', and 'proportion'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as referring to Manhattan as 'the Manhattan city' rather than 'the district of Manhattan'. Additionally, some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'the figure of residents was 79216'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, incorporating more precise academic collocations would help you move into a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'the rest of the districts experienced the opposite trend' (which is accurate, but the preceding sentence structure is slightly clunky) and 'in comparison to the other regions, likewise 60515 in Manhattan'. Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of articles when referring to specific geographical locations.

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

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