Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-23
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 tables compare the population of New York City ass a whole and show the proportion of Manhattan and the other four districts in 1800, 1900 and 2000.
Overall, it is clear that the population had experienced increasing trend. While the highest population stayed at Manhattan in first 20 decades, then it overtook by other four district in 2000.
Moving into more detail, in 1800, the overall population was 79,216, more than half population settled at Manhattan, which was 60,515 people and left in other districts of New York City. In 1900, the total population had risen sharply to 3,437,202. Manhattan's population reached at 1,850,093, accounting for 54% of the total, whereas the other districts had 1,587,109 residents, representing 46%.
In 2000, the city's population increased further to 8,009,185. However, Manhattan's population decreased to 1,538,096 and proportion fell to just 19%. In contrast, the other districts grew significantly to 6,471,089 people, making up 81% of the total.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response successfully identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the population shifts in New York City. You have selected key data points to support your description, such as the total population figures and the percentage shifts between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis could be improved by explicitly mentioning the specific districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) rather than grouping them as 'other districts' throughout the entire report. While you have covered the main features, the comparison between the districts could be more detailed to fully satisfy the requirements of a Band 7 or higher.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving chronologically from 1800 to 2000. You use some cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast' and 'However'. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, the phrase 'left in other districts' is awkward and disrupts the flow. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a coherent manner.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'accounted for', and 'significantly'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'the population had experienced increasing trend' (should be 'an increasing trend') and 'it overtook by other four district' (should be 'it was overtaken by the other four districts'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on more precise collocations and ensure articles are used correctly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For instance, 'the highest population stayed at Manhattan' is grammatically incorrect; 'remained in Manhattan' would be better. Additionally, there are issues with verb tense and passive voice, such as 'it overtook by other four district'. Punctuation is generally fine, but the sentence structure occasionally feels slightly forced. Increasing the variety of error-free complex sentences would 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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