Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-19

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 main table illustrates the population growth of New York City which happened between 1800 and 2000. Whereas the second and third tables depicts the population fluctuation of five major districts over the same time frame.

Overall, it is clear that the demographic trend of all the given towns rose steadily throughout the period showing a continuous upward trend.

Beginning with the first table, it can be seen that the population growth is four times greater than what it was in 1900.

Similarly there was a significant increase in population from 1900 to 2000 as it doubled in later year.

Meanwhile the second table shows that Manhattan contributed to 76% of the total population in year 1800. Whereas, it represented 54% in 1900 and later in 2000 , it accounted for 19% of the entire population. Similarly , the third graph of other districts exhibits that it accounted for 24% of the entire population in 1800, which rose to 46% in 1900 and doubled in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the data, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the overall upward trend, the description of the data is occasionally inaccurate or lacks precision. For instance, stating the population in 2000 is 'four times greater' than in 1900 is not clearly supported by the provided figures. Furthermore, the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is a good attempt at synthesis, but the interpretation of the percentages could be more detailed to fully capture the shift in population distribution. To improve, ensure that your data points are accurately transcribed and that you provide a more comprehensive overview of the significant changes across all time periods.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Whereas', and 'Similarly' to link your points. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as starting a sentence with 'Similarly' when the comparison is not perfectly parallel. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when referring to 'the third graph of other districts'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'demographic trend', 'fluctuation', and 'accounted for'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'the third graph of other districts' is slightly imprecise, as the prompt refers to tables. There are also minor issues with phrasing, such as 'in later year' instead of 'in the later years'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and ensure that your word choices are consistently natural and accurate in the context of describing statistical data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the second and third tables depicts') and missing articles ('in year 1800'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas (e.g., '2000 ,'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage will help you achieve greater accuracy and demonstrate better control over your grammatical structures.

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

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