Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-30
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 illustrates the variation in the overall population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. Also the last two tables depicts the changes in population in some districts in New York City including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island within the same period.
Overall, it is clear from the chart that the total population in New York City saw an increase over the years, while in Manhattan there was a decrease in the percentage of the total population when compared to other districts which increased in percentage over the three years period.
In the year 1800, the total population of all five districts in New York City was 79,216, by the year 1900 it has increased to 3,437,202 in population. There was drastic increase in the overall population in 2000 which stood at 8,009,185.
In Manhattan the percentage of the total population saw a declined over the years when compared to other districts. In the year 1800, Manhattan stood at 76% of the total population while other districts were just 24%. But by the end of 2000 Manhattan saw decrease to 19% in total population while other districts plunged to 81%.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the data, including the total population growth and the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat limited. While you identify the overall trends, you fail to provide specific data points for the individual districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) as requested by the prompt, instead grouping them together as 'other districts'. This lack of detail prevents a more comprehensive comparison. To reach a higher band, ensure you select and report on the specific figures for each category provided in the tables rather than generalising them into one group.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organised with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the total population data from the district-specific analysis. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In the year 1800', and 'But by the end of' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions between sentences could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, though the grouping of all districts into 'other districts' makes the comparison feel slightly repetitive in the final paragraph.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe trends such as 'drastic increase' and 'saw a declined'. However, there are several errors in word form and collocation that detract from the quality of the writing. For example, you wrote 'saw a declined' instead of 'saw a decline' and 'plunged to 81%' (which is an inaccurate use of 'plunged' as the percentage actually increased). To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for data trends and ensure correct word forms are used consistently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that affect the accuracy of your writing. Subject-verb agreement issues are frequent, such as 'The tables illustrates' (should be 'illustrate') and 'the last two tables depicts' (should be 'depict'). Additionally, there are tense inconsistencies, such as 'it has increased' (should be 'it had increased' or 'it increased') and 'saw a declined'. While you attempt some complex sentence structures, the frequency of these basic errors limits the score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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