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 first table illustrates the total population changes between 1800 and 2000 in the New York City. The second and third table present population changes in the five districts of the city in the same period.

Overall, the total population of New York City increased over the period. Moreover, the population of Manhattan district increased from 1800 to 1900 and then declined in 2000 and also, its percentage out of total decreased from 1800 to 2000. Furthermore, the population and proportion of other four districts increased dramatically over the period.

In 1800, the total population of New York City was 79216, which increased considerably in 1900 to [redacted phone] and continued to increase further in 2000 to [redacted phone].

The individual population of Manhattan district in 1800 was 60515, and its proportion was 76% out of total. This population increased to large extent ([redacted phone]) in 1900, whereas the percentage decreased to 54%. In 2000, this population fell to [redacted phone] and the percentage out of total also decreased to just 19%.

The collective population of other four districts which include Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island in 1800 was 18701, while the proportion was 24%. This population expanded to a considerable number in 1900 to [redacted phone], and the fraction out of total also increased to 46%. In the final year, the population of these four districts further increased a lot to [redacted phone], whereas the percentage also increased to 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all parts of the task by reporting on the total population and the specific changes in the five districts. The use of data to support your points is accurate and relevant. To reach a higher band, ensure that your overview is more synthesised; for example, you could highlight the contrast between Manhattan's decline in proportion and the rapid growth of the other districts more explicitly. Overall, you have provided a well-structured summary that addresses all requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that group information effectively. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'whereas' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by ensuring each paragraph has a distinct focus. The referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be more tightly connected to improve the flow of information. Overall, the progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'considerably', and 'dramatically' effectively. There are some instances where word choice could be more precise, such as 'increased a lot' or 'large extent', which are slightly informal or repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate more varied academic collocations to describe trends. While there are some minor inaccuracies, they do not impede communication, and the vocabulary used is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical errors, such as the unnecessary use of 'the' before 'New York City' and 'the' before 'other four districts'. Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and prepositions throughout the text. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear, and the sentences are generally well-constructed. Increasing the variety of complex structures and proofreading for small grammatical slips would help in achieving a higher score.

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

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