Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11

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 illustrate the population changes in the New York city and its five districts namely: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten island from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, it is evident that the New York city and its districts accounted for an upward trend in contrast to Manhattan that showed decline in population after soaring in 1900.

In general, the population in given period of time is clearly seen to increase in New York city it was 79,216 in 1800 and raised to 8,009,185 till 2000. Similarly, the other four districts out of five experienced the same thing and they contributed 81 percent of population by the end of year 2000 starting from just 24 percent.

In contrast, Manhattan presented an opposite trend and showed decreasing figures in contribution to the overall population in New York city. In the year 1800 it represented 76 percent of the total population which further declined to 54 percent in 1900 and finally to 19 percent in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the data, including the overall population growth and the shifting proportions of the districts. However, the analysis is somewhat limited. While you correctly identify the total population growth and the contrasting trend in Manhattan, the specific data for the other four districts is grouped together too broadly. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific comparisons between the districts (e.g., noting that Queens or Brooklyn saw significant growth) rather than just stating they 'experienced the same thing'. The overview is clear, but the supporting details lack the depth required for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In general', 'Similarly', and 'In contrast' to guide the reader. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, and some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between the general population data and the district-specific percentages could be smoother. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner, but the use of cohesive devices could be more varied and sophisticated to improve the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'upward trend', 'soaring', and 'contributed'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'namely:' (which is punctuated incorrectly) and 'raised to' (where 'rose to' or 'increased to' would be more accurate). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Attempting to use more specific collocations related to data trends would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the New York city' (the article 'the' is unnecessary here), 'namely: Manhattan' (incorrect punctuation), and 'in given period of time' (missing article). Additionally, 'raised to' is a common error for 'rose to'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on article usage and ensuring subject-verb agreement, and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures with greater accuracy.

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

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