Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-10

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 provides information about the total population of New York city between 1800 and 2000. The first table shows total population, While the other two table compare the Manhattan population with include the other four districts.

Overall, it is clear that the population of New York increased dramatically over the period. While, Manhattan population is declined considerably, followed by other districts population experienced a gradually increase.

In 1800, New York city had a total population of 79,216, followed by 60,515 population lived in Manhattan at around 76%. By 1900, cities population has increased sharply 3,437,202 . However, Manhattan population increased to 1,850,093 although percentage of total population declined at around 54%. Moreover, the population of other districts increased from 18,701 (24%) to 1,587,109 at 46%.

By 2000, total population recorded has the highest figures at around 8,009,185. In contrast, Manhattan population decreased slightly to 1,538,096, followed by percentage is fell dramatically to 19%. Furthermore, other four districts accounted for the highest population at around 6,471,089 , Which represented 81% of the city`s population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task by summarizing the total population and comparing the districts. You successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall growth and the shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other districts. However, there are some inaccuracies in the data reporting; for instance, you state Manhattan's population 'declined considerably' between 1800 and 2000, but the data shows it actually increased from 60,515 to 1,538,096. You likely confused the percentage share with the absolute population figures. More careful attention to the distinction between raw numbers and percentages is required to achieve a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the data. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'In contrast', and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical errors, such as 'While, Manhattan population is declined'. The use of referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between sentences could be smoother. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring they are used with greater precision would enhance the logical progression of your report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dramatically', 'sharply', and 'accounted for'. However, there are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'followed by percentage is fell' and 'cities population has increased'. These errors occasionally make the text slightly difficult to follow. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for describing trends and ensure that your word forms (e.g., 'city's' vs 'cities') are accurate. Expanding your range of reporting verbs and adverbs would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, they are frequently marred by grammatical errors, such as 'The tables provides' (subject-verb agreement) and 'Manhattan population is declined' (incorrect passive/active voice). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and capitalization. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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.