Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-03

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 table shows the population by years for New York, and then further table has divided into based on districts of New York. In year 1800 population of New York was 79,216 which immensly grew to 3,437,202 in 1900. The growth trend remained steep and in 2000 population was 8,009,185.

In 1800, majority of the population, 76% to be precise, lived in Manhattan. On the other hand, other districts that included Broklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island the number was just 24%. Fast forward to 1900, when the population of whole city grew, growth of population in Manhattan was 54% which was 1,850,093 people, whereas, other districts that included Broklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, their number grew to 1,587,109 which came out to be 46% of the whole New York. That mean in 1900 growth of population from Manhattan and other districts added close to equal percantage to the overall popuation of New York.

In 2000, population growth saw a different trend in other districts, population which was growing more in Manhattan did not grow with similiar percentage anymore, but for other districts including Broklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island the population growth was extremely high. In other districts, the number rose from 1,587,109 to 6,471,089 which was a big jump. On the other hand, Manhattan population just grew by some hundred thousands, and also constituted less of overall New York population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the population tables and making relevant comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts over the span of two centuries. The overview of trends is generally clear, such as noting how Manhattan housed the vast majority of residents in 1800 before being overtaken numerically by the other districts by 2000. However, some parts are more fully developed than others. For instance, the explanation of the shifting percentage shares in the middle paragraph is slightly repetitive and could have been structured more succinctly to highlight the main contrast more effectively. Nevertheless, all required data points are sourced accurately from the visual data, satisfying the requirements for this level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt to group information chronologically and geographically, moving from 1800 to 2000 and contrasting Manhattan with the other districts. Paragraphing is used to separate the different time periods and themes. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty, relying on repetitive transitions like 'on the other hand' and 'fast forward to 1900'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as when pronouns or phrases refer back rather loosely to the districts. To move to a higher band, the writer needs to employ a wider and more flexible range of cohesive devices and ensure smoother logical transitions between sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items and descriptive terms such as 'immensely grew', 'steep', and 'extreme jump'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'population by years' instead of 'population over time', and minor spelling slips like 'percantage' and 'similiar'. Repetition of phrases such as 'other districts that included Broklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island' also limits the lexical score. To achieve a higher band, the writer should vary their vocabulary more naturally and eliminate basic spelling and word formation errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures like relative clauses and time clauses. There are, however, some errors in grammar and punctuation, particularly missing articles ('In year 1800', 'majority of the population'), minor preposition errors ('divided into based on'), and occasional awkward clause integration. Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout. To progress further, the writer needs to increase the proportion of error-free complex sentences and exercise tighter control over articles and prepositions.

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