Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-27
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 provide information on fluctuations of total population of New York city and five districts of the city across 1800 to 2000.
First table gives information about the change in population in New York city that includes all the five districts. The number of population shown in the 1800 is 79,216 which dramatically increased to 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 2000. Overall population had a noticeable rise across the decades.
Manhattan, a district of New York, contributed 76% of the total population in 1800 that means most of the people were concentrated in this particular district at that time. However, it rapidly declined since Manhattan accounted for 54% in 1900 and only 19% in 2000.
Furthermore, other four districts had contributed to only 24% of the total population of New York city. Nevertheless, it had a significant rise to 46% in 1900. 81% of the total population was concentrated to these four districts in 2000.
In early years, Manhattan had the highest population while the population dispersed to other four districts of New York in the following decades.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The student successfully addresses 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. Key data points, such as the total population growth from 79,216 to over 8 million, and the dramatic shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts (from 76% in 1800 to 19% in 2000), are accurately cited. An overview is present at the end of the text, effectively summarising the main trend of population dispersion. The comparison between Manhattan and the other four combined districts is clearly handled, meeting all the requirements of a Band 7 response.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped logically, starting with the overall city figures, moving to Manhattan, and concluding with the other districts. Cohesive devices such as 'First table', 'However', 'Furthermore', and 'Nevertheless' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with distinct sections for the introduction/overall trend, Manhattan, and the remaining districts, earning a solid Band 7.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate and sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'fluctuations', 'concentrated', 'declined', and 'dispersed'. There are some minor lexical inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'The number of population' instead of 'The total population' or 'The population figure', and 'other four districts had contributed to only 24%'. However, the vocabulary is clear and communicates the intended meaning without difficulty, fitting the Band 6 descriptor well.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses and comparative structures. There are several grammatical errors and awkward articles, such as 'change in population in New York city' lacking a definite article, 'The number of population shown in the 1800 is' (omitting 'year' and incorrect preposition), and minor tense inconsistencies. Despite these errors, they do not impede communication, and the overall grammatical control supports a Band 6 score.
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