Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-07
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 graph provides information about the total change in population among all five districts of New York City while the second and third graph describes about the population change of Manhatttan and other four districts respectively with their change in percentage as well.
Overall, we can see a sharp rise in the population of the city where at first, majority of people were living in Manhattan district only but the trend shifted significantly where most of people were living in other districts till the end of the survey.
Starting from the year 1800, the total population of New York City was 79,216 out of which 76% (60,515) were living in Manhattan district only while a mere 24% (18,701) were living in all other four districts combined. Moving further, in 1900 the population rose to 3,437,202 out of which more then half i.e, 1,850,093 which is 54% if total were living in Manhattan only while the rest in other districts.
The population went straight up to 8,009,185 till 2000, out of which only 19% were from Manhattan which is 1,528,096 individuals while the rest of 81% or 6,471,089 residents were living in other districts.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the data well, identifying the overall growth in population and the shift in distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. You have successfully selected key data points for 1800, 1900, and 2000 to illustrate these trends. However, the task requires summarizing information across all five districts. While you mention 'other four districts' as a group, you do not provide any specific data or comparisons regarding the individual growth of Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, or Staten Island, which are presented in the second table. Including a brief mention of the most significant district among the four would have provided a more comprehensive overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'Starting from', 'Moving further', and 'while' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be more precise. For example, the phrase 'the second and third graph describes' is grammatically awkward and slightly confusing as it refers to tables. Overall, the flow of information is easy to follow, and the progression of ideas is clear.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'sharp rise', 'trend shifted significantly', and 'combined' are used appropriately. There are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'Manhatttan' (spelling) and 'describes about' (unnecessary preposition). Additionally, the phrasing 'went straight up' is a bit informal for an academic report. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and ensure consistent spelling throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use relative clauses ('which is 54% of total') and comparative structures effectively. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'more then half' (should be 'than') and '54% if total' (should be 'of'). The sentence 'the second and third graph describes' contains a subject-verb agreement error. Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the punctuation is generally accurate. Increasing the variety of complex structures and proofreading for minor agreement errors would improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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