Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-05

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 table illustrates the change in total population of New York City and population of five districts of the city Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, the population of New York City increases significantly over the period. The Manhattan population contain 60515 in 1800 then increases dramatically in 1900 and declined by 2000. While in other four districts the population growth increases over the period.

In New York City the population was 79,216 in 1800 which grows to 3,437,202 in 1900 then it is more than doubled in 2000 with 8,009,185 population. Manhattan districts has 60,515 population or 76% of total population. By 1900, its population had increased dramatically to 1,850,093, although its proportion had fallen to 54%. The situation change by 2000 the population decline to 1,538,096 representing only 19% of the city’s total.

The combined population of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island increased from just 18,701 in 1800 to 1,587,109 in 1900, before rising dramatically to 6,471,089 in 2000. Their share of the total population consequently increased from 24% to 46% and finally to 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided relevant data points to support your summary. You covered the total population growth and the contrasting trends between Manhattan and the other four districts. However, the report could be improved by providing a more integrated comparison between the districts throughout the period rather than treating them in separate blocks. While you included the key figures, ensure that the data is presented with complete accuracy; for instance, the 1800 total population figure is 79,216, but your description of the Manhattan proportion requires careful phrasing to ensure clarity regarding the shift in demographic weight over the two centuries.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively. You use cohesive devices such as 'while', 'although', and 'consequently' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by minor mechanical issues, such as the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be better connected to improve the overall cohesion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the total city data from the specific district analysis.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dramatically', 'proportion', and 'combined population'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'The situation change by 2000', which should be 'The situation changed by 2000'. While you successfully use numerical data to support your points, the variety of reporting verbs and descriptive adjectives is somewhat limited. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise synonyms for 'increase' and 'decline' to avoid repetition and add sophistication to your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and subject-verb agreement, such as 'Manhattan population contain' (should be 'contained') and 'The situation change' (should be 'changed'). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and pluralization, such as 'Manhattan districts has' (should be 'Manhattan district had'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on consistent tense usage when describing historical data will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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