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 three tables provided gives information about total population of New York city over centuries - 1800 to 2000 and across five districts of the city - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Brons, Queens, and Staten Island over the same time period.

In the first table, the combine population of New York city of all five districts is provided. By the year 1800 the population was observed as the least compared to other centuries. In 1900, population substantially peaked to 3,437,202. And by the 2000s the population again significantly grew almost thrice of that becoming 8,009,185. In the district of Manhattan alone, the population was 60,515 which was 76% of the total population. By the1900, there was an expansion in population about 1,850,093 which was 54% of the total population and till the 2000s, there was a slight decrease observed in population 1,538,096, which was 19% of total population.

In the third table, population of other districts is provided. In 1800, it was about 18,701 combined other districts which was 24% of total population. Cut to 1900, about 46% was the total population, which was about 1,587,109. By the 2000s, the population dramatically rose upto 6,471,089 which was about 81% of the total population, respectively.

In conclusion, as per thorough examination, Manhattan alone had a vast majority of population residing compared to other NYC districts across the two centuries - 1800 and 1900 but exception is witnessed during the 2000s.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided data to support your points. You covered the total population growth and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is slightly unbalanced; you focus heavily on Manhattan and the 'other' category, while the specific data for the individual districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) is largely ignored or grouped together. To achieve a higher band, ensure you highlight the most significant changes for all categories provided in the tables, such as the rapid growth of Brooklyn or Queens, rather than just grouping them as 'other'. The overview is present but could be more clearly defined as a summary of the most striking trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for the data, and a conclusion. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In the first table' and 'In conclusion', to guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical or informal, such as 'Cut to 1900'. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear; for instance, in the third paragraph, you mention 'other districts' but the data provided in the table actually lists specific districts. Improving the flow between sentences and using a wider variety of linking words would enhance the overall coherence of your response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'substantially', 'significantly', and 'dramatically' to describe trends. There are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'Brons' (Bronx) and 'combine population' (combined population). The phrasing 'almost thrice of that' is slightly awkward; 'three times that figure' would be more natural. While you successfully use some topic-specific vocabulary, you rely on repetitive structures when describing the data. Expanding your range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'The three tables provided gives' (subject-verb agreement) and 'by the1900' (spacing error). You also have issues with articles, such as 'in population 1,538,096' where a preposition or article is missing. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy. To improve, focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are punctuated correctly.

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

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