Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-25

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 provides the information regarding the population of New York City in the year between 1800 and 2000. While the other two tables give the data on the contribution of Manhattan and other districts (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten lsland, Bronx) in the rise of population of NYC.

Overall, the number of individuals increased rapidly over time in New York. At first, majority of the inhabitants were living in Manhattan but with time population in other districts grew in fast pace.

To begin with, the population in New York City soared as time passed by. In 1800, the total population of NYC was 79,216 which is followed by 3,437,202 in 1900 and finally reached 8,009,185 people in 2000.

While further analyzing the data, out of five districts of New York more than third-quarter of the total residents were living in Manhattan in 1800. At that time, the population of only Manhattan was 60,515 as compared to other districts which were only comprised of 18,701 individuals. As another century passed, population surged collectively in all districts of New York where Manhattan was the residence of 1,850,093 people and 1,587,109 people were living in other districts. Manhattan proportioned to 54% of total population whereas 46% of the total population were resided in other districts. By 2000, population in other districts rose sharply and they became the main contributor of rise in population in New York City.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all parts of the task well. You have successfully identified the main trends in the total population and compared the shift between Manhattan and the other districts over the two-century period. The data is accurately selected and used to support the main features. However, the report could be improved by providing a more precise breakdown of the 'other districts' in the final paragraph, as the prompt provides data for each, and by ensuring the overview is slightly more detailed regarding the specific shift in dominance from Manhattan to the outer boroughs. Overall, the response is clear and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the total population trends from the district-specific analysis. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'To begin with', and 'By 2000' are used to guide the reader through the data. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For instance, the phrase 'as another century passed' is a bit vague. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that the relationship between sentences is always explicit would help elevate the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, including terms like 'soared', 'surged', and 'contributor'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'proportioned to' (should be 'accounted for') and 'resided in' (should be 'resided in' or 'lived in'). Additionally, 'in the year between' is slightly awkward phrasing. While you successfully use some less common vocabulary, there is room to incorporate more precise academic collocations to describe statistical trends and proportions to reach a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'in the year between 1800 and 2000' (should be 'between 1800 and 2000'), 'which is followed by' (tense inconsistency), and 'more than third-quarter' (should be 'more than three-quarters'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the text, and the mistakes do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions, as these are the most frequent sources of error in your writing.

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

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