Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-14
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 fist table illustrates the alterations in the overall population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The remaining two tables show the population change in the five districts of the city, namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, over the same time.
Overall, it can be seen that the alterations in the total population of NYC increased throughout the period, with Manhattan initially experienced a greater change in the population among all five districts, and remaining four district overall made up to 81% of population change of total by the end.
The total population change rose from 79,216 to 8,009,185 people in 1800 and 2000 accordingly.
Manhattan, in 1800, showed 76% of total population change, with 54% and 19% recorded in 1900 and 2000, respectively. The remaining four districts started off from 18,701 people, overall accounted for 24% of total population change, with 46% appeared in 1900 and 81% by the end of the period, comprising 6,471,089 people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student covers the main features of the data well, reporting the overall population change from 1800 to 2000 and highlighting specific trends in Manhattan and the other four districts. The overview points out that total population increased and notes the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the rest of the city. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in how the percentage changes and district contributions are described (for instance, the phrasing around 'making up to 81% of population change of total' is a bit confusing), and some data points could have been selected more clearly. Overall, the response addresses all parts of the task adequately, earning a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is arranged in four paragraphs, providing a logical overall structure with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the figures. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'in 1800,' and 'respectively' are used to connect ideas, although referencing and linking can occasionally feel slightly mechanical or unclear, such as the transition into the final paragraph ('Manhattan, in 1800, showed...'). Paragraphing is present and helps separate the introduction, overview, and specific data details. Because of these strengths and minor organizational limitations, the text fits the Band 6.0 descriptors for coherence and cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting some less common phrases like 'overall accounted for' and 'comprising'. However, there is a spelling error in the very first sentence ('fist' instead of 'first') and some awkward word choices and collocations, such as 'alterations in the total population increased' and 'with Manhattan initially experienced'. These lexical slips and inaccuracies show an adequate range with limited flexibility, placing the response squarely at Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'comprising 6,471,089 people'). However, grammatical errors are noticeable and recurrent, such as tense and participle errors ('with Manhattan initially experienced', 'with 46% appeared'). Punctuation and phrasing in longer sentences can cause slight difficulty for the reader. While communication is not severely impeded, the frequency of grammatical errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band, aligning well with the Band 5.5 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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