Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-24

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 transformation in the overall population the New York City over the time period of 200 years from 1800 to 2000. The tables demonstrate the population changes in the five districts of the city including Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens during the similar years. Units are measured in percentage of total people.

Overall, the population of the city has shown a significant increase over these 2 centuries about doubling its population each hundred years. Manhattan has shown substantial decrease in the proportion of people living there as compared to other districts where population growth was almost double with passing years.

In terms of Manhattan, a large number of people resided there with the number of 60,515 making the total proportion of 76%. In 1900, a gradual decline in the percentage of the residents was observed at the rate of 76% counting to 1,850,093 people. The year 2000, followed the same trend with the drop of total population to 19% that was made the sum of 1,538,096 citizens.

Regarding other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island), a rapid rise in the number of individuals was seen. In 1800, the constituents were only 18,701 (24%) and rose to 1,587,109 in 1900, collectively making 46%. In 2000, the community continued to grow at the rate of 81% comprehensively making 6,471,089 number of folks.

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 districts between 1800 and 2000. An overview is provided, highlighting the overall population increase and the shift in proportions between Manhattan and the other districts. Key data points, such as the total populations and percentages, are accurately cited from the tables (e.g., Manhattan starting at 76% in 1800 and dropping to 19% in 2000). However, there is a minor misinterpretation in the introduction where the student mentions 'Brooklyn and Queens' while omitting the other districts listed in the visual, though they are later grouped correctly. Overall, the response meets the requirements well and presents a clear, data-supported summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organised with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and distinct body paragraphs focusing on Manhattan and the other districts respectively. Cohesive devices are used adequately to guide the reader through the data, such as 'Overall', 'In terms of Manhattan', and 'Regarding other districts'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different sections of the visual data. While referencing is generally clear, some transitions feel slightly mechanical ('that was made the sum of'), but overall progression is maintained throughout the text.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task, attempting less common terms such as 'transformation', 'substantial decrease', 'gradual decline', and 'constituents'. However, there are notable lexical and collocational inaccuracies that prevent a higher band, such as 'making the total proportion of 76%' and 'comprehensively making 6,471,089 number of folks', where 'folks' is too informal for an Academic Task 1 response. Word choices are sometimes awkward, but meaning is communicated clearly throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'making the total proportion of 76%', 'where population growth was almost double'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as missing articles ('population the New York City'), incorrect prepositions ('at the rate of 76%' when referring to a proportion), and tense inconsistencies ('The year 2000, followed the same trend'). Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication, and the majority of simple sentences are accurate.

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