Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-21
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 table provides information on changes in the population of all five districts in New York City, and separate tables show the proportions for Manhattan, and other districts that including Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island between 1800 and 2000.
Overall, the total population had risen sharply from 1800 to 2000. The figure for Manhattan had accounted for the largest part of the total population before that other districts overtook it by 2000.
In 1800, the total population of the New York City was 79,216 before rising to 3,437,202 by 1900. The total population in 1900 was consisted of 54% for Manhattan and 46% for other districts that were 1,850,093 and 1,587,096, respectively.
By 2000, the total population had become 8,009,185. The figure for Manhattan had recorded 1,538,096 that was 19% of the total number whereas Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island accounted for 81% of total population with the rate of 6,471,089.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall population growth and the shift in proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat limited. While you correctly identify the 1800–2000 trend, you omit the specific data points for the intermediate years (1850, 1950) which are provided in the tables. Including these would have provided a more comprehensive summary. The overview is clear, but the report could be improved by highlighting the specific growth patterns of the other districts more explicitly rather than grouping them entirely as a single entity throughout the body paragraphs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and supporting body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 1800', and 'By 2000' are used effectively to guide the reader through the chronological data. However, the referencing is occasionally repetitive, and some transitions between sentences feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed data analysis. To reach a higher band, ensure that the flow between sentences is smoother and that the relationship between the total population and the district-specific data is more tightly integrated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication of the data. You use terms like 'proportions', 'accounted for', and 'overtook' correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the total population was consisted of', which should be 'consisted of' or 'was composed of'. Additionally, the phrase 'the figure for Manhattan had recorded' is slightly unnatural; 'the figure for Manhattan stood at' or 'Manhattan accounted for' would be more precise. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and nouns would enhance the sophistication of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For example, 'other districts that including Brooklyn' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'other districts, including Brooklyn'. The use of 'had risen' and 'had become' is sometimes unnecessary, as simple past tense is often more appropriate for historical data. There are also minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. Increasing the variety of error-free complex structures will help improve your score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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