Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-27

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 illustrates fluctuations in the figure of total citizen count of New York City between the years 1800 and 2000 while, the second and third tables highlight the changes in the proportion of total population of the five districts of the city named Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the same period.

Overall, the tables demonstrate New York City's population increased exponentially over the years. However, Manhattan city's population gradually decreased compared to the total population. Additionally, other districts-Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island's population also faced rapid growth in terms of population.

The first table depicts that in the year of 1800, New York City had 79,216 population that gradually increased to 3,437,202 in the year 1900 and 8,008,185 in 2000. The second table highlights Manhattan's population grew steadily over the years from 60,515 in 1800 to 1,538,096 in 2000. However, the proportion for total population decreased in Manhattan accounting for 76% in the year 1800 to 19% in the year 2000.

The other districts population also increased from 18,701 in 1800 to 6,471,089 in 2000 while contributing to the total population also increased accounting for 24 percent in 1800 which dramatically increased to 81% in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall population growth and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. You included relevant data points to support your observations. However, the response could be improved by providing a more detailed breakdown of the individual districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) rather than grouping them together as 'other districts'. The prompt explicitly mentions these five districts, and a higher band score requires a more nuanced comparison of how these individual areas evolved over the two centuries, rather than just contrasting Manhattan against the rest.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information by table. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Additionally', and 'while' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly repetitive. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid and that the referencing (e.g., 'the other districts') is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'fluctuations', 'exponentially', and 'proportion'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'figure of total citizen count' which is slightly unnatural, and 'Manhattan city's population' (Manhattan is a district, not a city). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Incorporating more varied collocations related to data trends would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the opening sentence and the comparison in the final paragraph. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'in the year of 1800' (should be 'in 1800') and 'The other districts population' (missing possessive 'districts''). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and possessives when describing statistical data.

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

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