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 demonstrates changes in total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000,while other two tables compare the populations of Manhattan and other four districts between 1800 to 2000.

Overall, New York City's population grew dramatically over the period. While Manhattan accounted for the majority of residents in 1800 by 2000 the other districts had become dominants and made up more than fourth-fifths of the city's population.

In 1800 , the total population of New York City was just 79,216, of which 60,515 lived in Manhattan, representing 76% of the total, By 1900 the city's population had risen sharply to over 3.4 million. Manhattan's population also packed at 1,850,093, but it share fell to 54%.However, between 1900 to 2000,Manhattan's population declined to 1,538,096, and its proportion drop-dead further to only 19%.

In contrast, other four districts experienced continuous rapid growth. Starting from just 18,701 people or 24% in 1800,there population reached 1,587,109 by 1900, accounting for 40%.The most significant increase occurred in the 2oth century ,with number of surging to 6,471,089 in 2000,. As a result, these districts represent 81% of New York City's total population by the end of the period ,for exceeding Manhattan.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively covers the main features of the data, providing a clear overview and supporting details. You successfully identified the dramatic growth of the city and the shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. The comparison between the two time periods (1800-1900 and 1900-2000) is well-handled. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are transcribed with absolute precision, as there are minor discrepancies in the figures cited compared to the source tables (e.g., the 2000 total for other districts). Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses all requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'While', and 'As a result' are used to link ideas effectively. However, there are some minor issues with punctuation and spacing, such as missing spaces after commas and periods (e.g., '1800 ,', '1900 ,'). Improving the consistency of these mechanical aspects would enhance the flow and professionalism of the writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'dramatically', 'surging', and 'proportion' appropriately. There are some instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'packed' instead of 'peaked' and the non-standard 'drop-dead' instead of 'dropped'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do highlight a need for more precise control over collocations and word forms. Focusing on accurate word choice will help elevate your score in this criterion.

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 errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'there population' instead of 'their population') and punctuation errors. The use of '2oth' is a typographical error. While you attempt complex structures, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the writing from being considered error-free. Increasing your attention to proofreading for small grammatical slips will improve your accuracy significantly.

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

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