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 provided tables illustrate the changes in populaton of NYC, Manhattan and the other four districts between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, it is clear that New York city experienced a significant upward trend over the period shown, whereas population of manhattan rose sharply till the middle of the period, before declining by the end. Meanwhile, Other districts climbed dramatically.

In 1800, the populatioin of NYC stood at 79,216, before raising to 3,437,202 in 1900. Thereafter, it reacehd a peak of 8,009,185 in 2000. In contrast, the population of Manhattan stood at 60,515 in 1800 before climbing to 1,850,093. However, it fell steeply to 1,538,096 in 2000. In terms of its share, Manhattan accounted for 76%, before dropping to 54% in 1900 and plummeted to just 19% in 2000.

Turning to the other districts, The figure stood at 18,701 in 1800. Thereafter, it rose steadily to 1,587,109 in 1900. Subsequently, It increased to 6,471,089 in 2000, Similarlly, the shares od total poluation increased from 24% in 1800 to 46% in 1900 before increasing significantly to 81% in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the population changes in NYC and its districts. You selected key data points to support your descriptions, such as the peak population in 2000 and the shifting percentage shares. However, the response could be improved by explicitly mentioning the specific districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) rather than grouping them collectively as 'other districts' throughout the entire report. This would provide a more comprehensive summary of the data provided in the tables. Overall, the information is accurate and the main features are well-highlighted.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that separate the general city trends from the district-specific data. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Turning to', and 'Subsequently' to guide the reader through the data. However, there are some minor issues with mechanical cohesion, such as the inconsistent capitalization of 'Other' and 'Similarlly' (which is also misspelled). The paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear progression of ideas throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'upward trend', 'rose sharply', 'declining', 'climbed dramatically', and 'plummeted'. These choices are appropriate for an academic report. There are some spelling errors, such as 'populaton', 'reacehd', 'Similarlly', and 'poluation', which slightly detract from the professional tone. While the range is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise synonyms for 'increased' or 'decreased' would help elevate the score further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is good. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'before raising to' (should be 'rising'), 'population of manhattan' (needs capitalization), and 'shares od total poluation' (typo). Additionally, there are some punctuation errors, such as unnecessary capitalization in the middle of sentences (e.g., 'Turning to the other districts, The figure...'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and basic mechanics will improve your accuracy.

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

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