Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-03
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 presents the data related to the changes in the all districts if New York city between 1800 and 2000. The second and third table shows the same for the number of people in Manhattan city and other districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, with the proportion out of total population's percentage over the same three centuries.
Overall, the population of New York city had increased as the time passed by. Initially Manhattan was the largest percentage holder of the total population of New York city, but later on, other became more populated.
In 1800, the total number of individuals in the city was 79,216, out of this 60,515(76% of total public there at that time) were living in Manhattan district and the remaining ones were in other districts. In 1900, population grew significantly and reached 3,437,202 in numbers of people. At this time, Manhattan still at greater proportion 54%(1,850,093) and the other district were of 46% of total.
As in 2000, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people, which was more than the double of previous figure. The population was 8,009,185. But this Manhattan was only about 19% of total population and the other districts were of 81% of the combined population of the New York city.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| 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 distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the 1800, 1900, and 2000 figures, the comparison between the districts is slightly repetitive. The overview is clear, but the report would benefit from a more analytical approach, such as highlighting the specific decade or period where the most dramatic shift occurred. You have successfully identified the key trends, but the development of these points could be more nuanced to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from the total population to the specific district trends. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'As in 2000' or 'the other district were of 46%'. Referencing is sometimes imprecise, making the flow feel slightly disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'changes in the all districts' and 'number of people'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'percentage holder' and 'total public'. While the meaning is clear, the range of vocabulary is limited and does not demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. Incorporating more precise terminology related to data description, such as 'demographic shift' or 'proportionate distribution', would significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'the second and third table shows' (subject-verb agreement), 'Manhattan city' (redundant), and 'the other district were of 46%' (missing noun/article). Punctuation is generally functional, but the frequency of errors in basic grammar—specifically pluralization and subject-verb agreement—is noticeable. To improve, focus on proofreading for these common slips and aim for more complex, error-free sentence constructions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.