Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-30

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 image displays three different tables showing New york's population over the period from 1800 to 2000, with a comparison of population change between the 5 districts of New york such as Manhattan shown in the 2nd table, along with the other districts, including Brooklyn to Staten Island displayed in the last table.

Overall, New york's population seems to be growing over the period (1800 to 2000). The total population in five different districts have also been compared between Manhattan & the other four. where Manhattan seems to have a larger portion in the early time i.e 1800 but seems to gradully decrease over the centuries. Meanwhile the other districts, which had a little portion of population in earlier time had overtaken the Mahattan district in the later period.

Manhattan, which had 76% of the new york's population in 1800, which was around 60,515 where as the other district just had the remaining 24% about 18,701. With time the population in Manhattan graudally discreased over the period, and till 1900, the other districts had a dramatic rise in their overall population which was now 46% having a 22% rise in the overall population to 1,587,109. In comparsion, the Manhattan population was reduced to 54%, a decrease of 22% since 1800 to 1,850,093.

In 2000, the population of other district had signficantly risen to 81% of the total new york's population, and the Manhattan had a loss in about 57% of the total population since 1800 having just 1,538,096. On the other hand the other district became quite populated having a rise of 57% in 2000 with overall population around 6,471,089 from 1800.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features, citing accurate data from the tables, and making relevant comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts across the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. An overview is present at the end of the second paragraph, highlighting the shift in population dominance from Manhattan to the other districts. While some of the percentage calculations regarding population changes could be phrased more clearly, the core information is accurately extracted and well-reported, satisfying the criteria for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into four paragraphs with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs dedicated to different time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'in comparison', and 'on the other hand' are used to connect ideas, though paragraphing and transitions can occasionally feel slightly mechanical (e.g., repeating similar structures when introducing data points). Referencing between figures and districts is mostly clear, resulting in a coherent overall arrangement that meets Band 6.5 standards.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task, attempting less common phrases like 'dramatic rise', 'gradually decreased', and 'significantly risen'. However, there are notable spelling and capitalization inaccuracies, such as 'New york' instead of 'New York', 'Mahattan' instead of 'Manhattan', and 'graudally discreased'. Word choice and collocations are generally clear enough not to impede communication, fitting a solid Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and comparative structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors involving punctuation, prepositions, and verb tenses, such as 'in the early time i.e 1800 but seems to gradully decrease', 'had a loss in about 57%', and comma splices or run-on sentences. These errors occasionally disrupt the flow of reading, though they rarely obscure the intended meaning, placing this performance in the Band 6.0 category.

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