Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-18

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 chart provided illustrates a demographic breakdown of population based on year in the New York City while other tables was a comparison in volume and proportion of total population in three decades in Manhattan and other districts.

Overall, the population had experienced a significant growth over the period. Among all the districts, a drastic change is observed in other districts and least in Manhattan in 2000.

In the New York City, the number of individuals had rose substantially in three decades. In the beginning, the population was noted to be 79,216 while it increased to a 7 digit number such as 8,009,185. However the proportion of change in population had declined. A large difference was accounted in 1800 by 76%. Among the other four districts: Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten island which generated a rapid growth after each decade and peaked to 81% with a population of 6,471,089 in 2000. The only time population dropped was in Manhattan in 1900.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the task by identifying the main trends in population growth. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial and lacks precision in interpreting the data. For instance, the reference to 'other districts' is vague, and the description of the data is occasionally confusing, such as the mention of '7 digit number' or the unclear interpretation of the percentage changes. While the main features are highlighted, the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts could be more clearly articulated to fully satisfy the requirements of a Band 7 response. The summary of the data is present but lacks the depth required for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the transition 'In the New York City' and the abrupt shift between sentences. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the 'other districts' versus Manhattan. While there is an overall coherent arrangement, the flow between sentences could be improved to achieve a more natural and sophisticated level of cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and sophistication expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'drastic change' and 'rapid growth' are appropriate, but the use of '7 digit number' is informal and imprecise for an academic report. There are also some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'the population had rose' (should be 'had risen') and 'accounted in 1800 by 76%'. Expanding the range of reporting verbs and using more specific terminology for demographic trends would improve the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'tables was a comparison' (subject-verb agreement), 'had rose' (incorrect verb form), and 'in the New York City' (article usage). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. A greater focus on accurate verb tenses and article usage is necessary to improve the grammatical accuracy.

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

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