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 depict 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 lit accounted for 19% of the entire population in 2000. 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 specific data points chosen are occasionally inaccurate or confusingly presented. For example, stating the population is 'four times greater than what it was in 1900' is a vague comparison that lacks clarity. Furthermore, the description of the district data is slightly muddled; you mention 'the third graph of other districts,' but the prompt refers to five specific districts. To improve, ensure you select the most significant data points (such as the total population peak or the shift in district dominance) and present them with greater precision and clarity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Whereas,' 'Similarly,' and 'Meanwhile' to link ideas. However, the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is a bit abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as when you refer to 'the third graph of other districts,' which does not align perfectly with the provided tables. The flow of information is generally logical, but the connection between the sentences could be smoother to achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'demographic trend,' 'fluctuation,' and 'contributed to.' However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'doubled in later year' (which should be 'in the later year' or 'by the later date') and 'lit accounted for' (a typo). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'surged,' 'plummeted,' or 'constituted a significant proportion,' and ensure your spelling and article usage are more consistent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist, such as 'the population growth is four times greater than what it was' (tense inconsistency) and 'in year 1800' (missing article). There is also a typo ('lit accounted for'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will help improve your accuracy.

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

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