Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-26
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 tabular data compares the changes in total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. Conversely, the second and third table illustrates the variations in the demographic data of five different districts of New York City i.e Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island over the same time frame.
In the first table it shows the increase in population from almost 79,000 in 1800 to almost 8 million 2000. Whereas, the second table depicts the population of only Manhattan district which also rose from almost 60 thousand in 1800 to a little over 1.5 million in 2000. It also shows the percentages of the total population in contains out of the New York City which practically decreases from 76% in 1800 to 19% in 2000.
Meanwhile the third table shows the demographic data of all the other districts of New York - Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, which also increases from a little over 18 thousand in 1800 to nearly 6 and a half million in 2000. Moreover, also the percentage in total population increased from about a quarter (24%) in 1800 to almost 80% in 2000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The response successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the population changes in New York City from 1800 to 2000, as well as the breakdown for Manhattan and the other combined districts. Key data points, such as the total population growth from 79,216 to over 8 million and the shifting percentage shares (e.g., Manhattan dropping from 76% to 19%), are accurately cited. An overview is naturally integrated into the body paragraphs. The student selects and compares relevant features appropriately, satisfying the requirements of Task Achievement at a Band 7.0 level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The text exhibits a clear overall progression. It is organized into an introduction and two body paragraphs that logically divide the data between Manhattan and the other districts. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Moreover', and 'Whereas' are used to connect ideas, although transitions like 'Conversely' at the start of the second sentence are slightly unnatural given that the tables are supplementing rather than opposing the first table. Paragraphing is used appropriately, resulting in a coherent response that meets the Band 6.5 descriptor criteria, rounded to 6.0 or 6.5 based on minor mechanical cohesion flaws.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing terms such as 'tabular data', 'demographic data', 'variations', and 'percentages'. There are some awkward phrasings, such as 'percentage in total population increased' instead of 'percentage of the total population'. Less common items are attempted with general success, and although word-choice errors occur occasionally, they do not impede communication. This aligns well with the Band 6.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses ('districts of New York City i.e Manhattan... which also rose'). There are a few grammatical inaccuracies, including a missing subject in 'In the first table it shows' and a prepositional error in 'percentage... it contains out of the New York City' (omitting 'total'). However, the majority of sentences are clear and understandable, and punctuation is generally sound. These features place the writing securely in the Band 6.0 category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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