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)

These tables represents the population of New York City in 1800, includng all of its five districts (i.e. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island), and how it kept raising per century till year 2000.

In year 1800, the total population of New York City was 79,216. Which was comprised of all of its five states. Out of this number, 76% population was from Manahattan district. However, the all other four district makes only 24% of total population.

Later, in year 1900, the number of People in NYC was raised to 1,850,093. And this time, the percentage of other four districts (excluding Manhattan), jumps to 46%, while the percentage of Manhattan district still remains more than half of the total population i.e. 54%.

And then finally, in year 2000, the total population of NYC was 8,009,185. And out of this total popuation, 81% was from other four districts. While, Manhattan was just left with 19% of total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the tables well by presenting overall population figures alongside the proportional breakdown between Manhattan and the other four districts. The student correctly identifies the shift from Manhattan being the dominant populated area in 1800 (76%) to the other districts holding the vast majority by 2000 (81%). However, there is a factual error in the description of the 1900 figures: the student states that the population of NYC was 1,850,093 in 1900, but that figure actually represents Manhattan alone (while the total NYC population in 1900 was 3,437,202). Despite this misinterpretation of the data points, the overall trends and comparisons are generally well reported, meeting the core requirements of Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text is logically organised into an introduction and three body paragraphs corresponding to the time periods (1800, 1900, 2000). Progression is clear, guiding the reader chronologically through the data. Cohesive devices such as 'Later', 'And this time', and 'And then finally' are used, though they are somewhat repetitive and informal ('And then finally'). Paragraphing is appropriately structured around the temporal shifts. Reference pronouns are generally clear, contributing to an overall coherent arrangement, though the repetitive starting of sentences with conjunctions detracts slightly from sophisticated cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The lexical range is adequate for the task. The student attempts less common vocabulary such as 'comprised of', 'percentage', and 'dominant' concepts, though vocabulary is sometimes repetitive or slightly unnatural (e.g., 'kept raising', 'makes only 24%', 'jumps to'). There are a few word choice and spelling inaccuracies, such as 'Manahattan' and using 'states' instead of 'districts' ('all of its five states'). However, the errors do not impede communication, and the vocabulary used is sufficient to convey the main statistical trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and subordinate structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors and punctuation issues, notably sentence fragments (e.g., 'Which was comprised of all of its five states.') and tense/verb agreement errors (e.g., 'These tables represents', 'the all other four district makes', 'the number of People... was raised', 'percentage... remains'). Complex structures are often attempted with noticeable inaccuracies, though meaning remains generally clear and communication is rarely impeded.

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