Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-06

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 given table illustrate the changes in total population rate of New York City (all its five districts) from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the population boosted up to 5 times in 2000. Among all the 5 districts of the New York City, Manhattan had the highest percentage of population from the start of 1800 about 76% and the others were around 24%.

Comparing the 5 districts, Manhattan initially had the highest percentage of total population. By 1900, the percentage of people decreased up to 54%. In 2000, the population rate drastically decreased up to 19%.

The other districts were the opposite as they initially had the lowest population percentage compared to Manhattan. By the year 1900, the population rate gradually increased up to 46%. Moving along to year 2000, the percentage of the total population of it was 81%, which outmatched the Manhattan.

At the end, the 4 district escalated their population rate very quickly whereas Manhattan total population rate drastically decreased.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrast in the tables: Manhattan’s share falls from 76% to 19%, while the other districts’ combined share rises from 24% to 81%. The year-by-year comparisons are relevant, and the figures you give for these percentages match the data. However, the overview says the city’s population “boosted up to 5 times,” which is inaccurate: the total rises from 79,216 to 8,009,185, far more than fivefold. The response also focuses almost entirely on percentage shares and does not report the substantial change in total population or the districts’ population counts. To make the summary more complete, include the overall growth and clarify that the second category combines four districts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement, moving from an introduction and overview to separate paragraphs about Manhattan and the other districts. This makes the central comparison easy to follow. You also use time markers such as “By 1900” and “In 2000” to signal changes across the period. However, the final sentence repeats the contrast already made in the preceding paragraphs, and transitions such as “Moving along to year 2000” and “At the end” feel mechanical. Some references are unclear: “the percentage of the total population of it” does not clearly identify the other districts. A more concise conclusion and clearer references would make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing change, including “percentage,” “decreased,” “increased,” and “drastically,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There is some attempt to vary expression, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a data summary. “Population rate” is not the right term for a population share, while “boosted up to 5 times” and “outmatched the Manhattan” are awkward or imprecise. “Escalated” also suggests a different tone from the neutral language usually used in Task 1. Aim for precise collocations such as “the population rose” and “accounted for,” and avoid repeating “population rate” when referring to percentages.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple statements and more complex comparisons, for example, “The other districts were the opposite as they initially had the lowest population percentage compared to Manhattan.” The main trends remain understandable despite some grammatical errors. There are issues with subject–verb agreement in “The given table illustrate,” and the phrase “the 4 district” has an incorrect plural form. Articles and prepositions also need attention in phrases such as “of the New York City” and “compared to Manhattan.” Some sentence structures are awkward, particularly “the percentage of the total population of it was 81%.” Check agreement, articles, and noun phrases, and use a clearer structure such as “the other districts’ share reached 81%.”

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