Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-26
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 table shows the data of changes in the population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. The first table illustrates the changes in total population, and thesecond table demonstrates the changes of one district Manhattan. However, the third table shows the changes in population of other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island).
Overall, the population steadily increased in New York City districts. The Manhattan district population increased as compared to other four districts between 1800 and 2000.
In 1800, Manhattan population is more as compared to other four districts (76% and 24%). In 1900, Manhattan population is higher than the other four districts (54% and 46%), but in 2000, other four districts population is greater than the Manhattan district (81% and 19%).
The total population of New York City rose rapidly. In 1800, the total population was 79,216 in which 60,515 was of Manhattan, and 18,701 of other four districts. In 1900, the total population was 3,437,202 in which 1,850,093 was of Manhattan, and 1,587,109 of other four districts. In 2000, the total population was 8,009,185 in which 1,538,096 was of Manhattan, and 6,471,089 of other four districts.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main trends and provides data from the tables to support the description. You successfully identified the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other four districts. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, relying heavily on listing figures rather than synthesizing the information. To improve, focus on grouping the data more effectively to highlight the 'main features' rather than presenting a chronological list of statistics. The overview is present but could be more analytical regarding the overall growth trajectory of the city as a whole versus the specific districts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'In 1800' and 'In 1900' to structure the report. However, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is a bit abrupt. The use of referencing is sometimes repetitive, and the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'meanwhile') to connect the data points more fluidly rather than relying on simple sentence structures.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'steadily increased', 'rose rapidly', and 'proportion'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the phrasing 'the changes of' and 'the population of'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to trends and data, such as 'surpassed', 'accounted for', or 'a significant shift in distribution'. There are no major spelling errors, but the word choice is functional rather than sophisticated.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'Manhattan population is more' (should be 'The population of Manhattan was higher') and 'other four districts population is greater' (should be 'the population of the other four districts was greater'). Tense consistency is also an issue; you switch between present and past tense when describing historical data. Focusing on consistent past tense for historical data and improving subject-verb agreement will significantly enhance the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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