Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-24

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 represent the changes of population rate in all five districts of New York City over the last three centuries beginning in 1800.

Overall, there was an increasing trend across the five districts, however, in Manhattan there was a decline between 1900 and 2000 while the rest of the districts experienced a significant growth since 1800.

The first table illustrates a number of overall population in the city of New York. When it was first recorded, there were close to 80,000 people residing in New York City. The population continued to grow since then with close to 3.5 million people in 1900. The number almost tripled by 2000 with 8,000,000 people residing all over New York City.

In 1900, Manhattan experienced an increase number of population since 1800 contributing to more than 50% to the total population. In 2000, however, the percentage of Manhattan residents dropped while other districts gained more than 80% of total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a general overview but fails to adequately report on the specific data provided in the tables. While you mention the overall population growth and the decline in Manhattan's share, you omit significant details regarding the other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island). The task requires a more comprehensive summary of the main features across all categories. By focusing only on the total and Manhattan, you have under-developed the response, missing the opportunity to compare the dramatic growth in Queens or the specific trends in the other boroughs. To improve, ensure you select and report key data points for all categories mentioned in the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'however', and 'In 1900', which assist in linking ideas. However, the progression of information is somewhat mechanical. The transition between the general population table and the district-specific data could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the phrase 'the rest of the districts experienced a significant growth', which is a broad statement that lacks specific supporting data from the provided tables. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You use basic phrases like 'increasing trend', 'significant growth', and 'number of overall population'. There is some repetition of the word 'population'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more varied and precise terminology related to data description, such as 'witnessed a surge', 'accounted for', or 'fluctuated'. While the meaning is clear, the lexical range is limited and does not demonstrate an awareness of academic style or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the changes of population rate' (should be 'changes in the population rate') and 'an increase number of population' (should be 'an increased number of residents' or 'a population increase'). Additionally, 'residing all over New York City' is slightly awkward. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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