Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-04

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 shows information about total population of new work city and other tables show the proportion of total population in Manhattan and other four districts between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, it is clear that population of all the cities witnessed an upward trend. Moreover, proportion of total population increased in four cities except Manhattan.

Looking at the population of all cities, in 1800, population of New York city was 79216 which significantly soared in 1900, and recorded [redacted phone] in 2000. Similarly, population of Manhattan surged over time, it was 60515 in 1800 which climbed at [redacted phone] in 2000. Population of other four distrcits also increased substantially from 18701 to [redacted phone] in 2000.

Looking at the percentage of total population, in Manhattan proportion of toal population plunged over time from 76% to 19% in 2000. In contrast, other four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) experienced a sharp growth. in 1800 it was 24%, which soared to 46% of total population in 1900, afterwards it increased unbelievably to 81% in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task by summarizing the total population growth and the shifts in proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall upward trajectory and the contrasting percentage changes between Manhattan and the other four districts. However, the analysis could be improved by including more specific data points from the tables to support your comparisons. For instance, while you mention the 1800 and 2000 figures, including a mid-point (such as 1900) for all categories would provide a more comprehensive overview. The summary is accurate, but the development of the trends could be slightly more detailed to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on different aspects of the data. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices like 'Overall', 'Similarly', and 'In contrast' to link your ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes a bit mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the transition between sentences feels more natural. The referencing is generally clear, though some minor improvements in sentence structure would enhance the flow between the data points provided.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upward trend', 'soared', 'surged', and 'plunged' to describe the data effectively. There are some minor errors, such as 'new work city' (a typo for New York) and 'distrcits' (spelling error). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, some word choices are slightly repetitive or could be more precise. To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring absolute accuracy in spelling and capitalization, especially when referring to proper nouns like city names.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('population of all the cities', 'in 1800 it was 24%') and minor punctuation issues. Some sentences, such as 'it was 60515 in 1800 which climbed at 1538096 in 2000', would be better phrased as 'which climbed to 1,538,096'. The errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions with data would be beneficial.

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