Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-22

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 first table depicts total population of New York city including all five districts over three century: 1800,1900 and 2000. The second table compares total population of the district Manhattan in the year 1800, 1900 and 2000 whereas the third table illustrate the population of other four districts of New York in those years.

Overall, the total population of New York has grown exponentially over the years. Furthermore, Manhattan district makes up most of the percentage of total population initially which declines substantially.

In the year 1800, population of New York was at 79,216 but as years passed population saw significant growth reaching a level of 8,009,185 in 2000. Manhattan district contributed 76% to the population of New York but in 2000, it contributed only 19%.

Other districts: Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island had total population of 18,701 in 1800 which made up 24% of total population but afterwards an upward trend was observed reaching the number 6,471,089 making up 81% of total population of New York.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview. You have selected key data points, such as the initial and final population figures and the shifting proportions of Manhattan versus the other districts. However, the analysis could be improved by including more specific comparisons between the districts in the intermediate year (1900) to provide a more comprehensive picture of the data. The summary is accurate, but the inclusion of more nuanced comparisons would elevate the response. You have addressed all parts of the prompt effectively, ensuring the reader understands the significant demographic shifts in New York City over the two-century period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the general city-wide trend to specific district comparisons. You use cohesive devices such as 'furthermore', 'whereas', and 'in the year 1800' to link your points. However, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. Additionally, the referencing in the final paragraph is slightly repetitive. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner, and the paragraphing is appropriate for an academic task of this nature.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'exponentially', 'substantially', and 'upward trend'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'over three century' (should be 'centuries') and 'makes up most of the percentage' (which is slightly redundant). While you use some less common vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing when describing statistical changes. The current vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'whereas' to contrast data. There are several grammatical slips, including missing articles ('the' New York city, 'the' district Manhattan) and subject-verb agreement issues ('table illustrate' instead of 'tables illustrate'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the reader's understanding of the data. To improve, focus on proofreading for articles and pluralization. The majority of your sentences are clear and functional, which is consistent with a band 6.0 performance.

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

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