Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-18

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 very first table illustrates the change in the population of New York City from the18th to 20th century, followed by two tables which show the population change in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island from the year 1800 to the year 2000. Overall, significant change in the population was in the four districts of New York city as Manhattan contributed more people to the total population.

In the 18th century, the total population of New York City was around 80 thousand, Manhattan alone contributed above 60 thousand people to the total population 76%. However, the combined population of other four districts was around 18,701 people contributed 24% to the total population. In the ninteen century, the total population of New York City was around 3.5 million , Manhattan alone accounted almost 1.9 million 54% people to the total population. The other four districts combined people were around 1.6 million which contributed 46% to the total population.

In the 20th century, the total population of New York City was slightly above from 8 million, Manhattan accounted for slightly above 1.5 million 19% people to the total population, followed by other four districts which contributed almost 6.5 million people 81% to the total population of New York City.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the population changes in New York City and its five districts between 1800 and 2000. Key data points, such as the total population figures and the contrasting shifts between Manhattan and the other four districts, are accurately cited from the visual data. An overview is present at the end of the introduction, noting the significant shift towards the other four districts, though it could have been integrated more smoothly. The student selects and contrasts relevant data, supporting all statements with figures from the tables, satisfying the core requirements of Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with a clear progression from the introduction into three body paragraphs representing the three time periods (1800, 1900, and 2000). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the centuries. Cohesive devices are generally used to guide the reader, although some transitions and referencing feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent repetition of 'contributed' and 'to the total population'. Overall, the logical sequence makes the data easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range suited to a Task 1 response, using terms such as 'illustrates', 'accounted for', and percentages correctly. However, there are instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'Manhattan alone contributed more people' (which contradicts the data showing Manhattan's share actually decreased) and 'the other four districts combined people were around'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main trends, a lack of flexibility and occasional lexical inaccuracies prevent it from reaching a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with varying success. There are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues throughout the text, such as missing prepositions ('slightly above from 8 million'), comma splices, and clunky relative clauses ('other four districts which contributed...'). While these errors do not impede overall communication—the numbers and trends remain clear—they occur frequently enough to restrict the score to Band 6, as error-free sentences are not in the majority.

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

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