Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-07

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 provides the information about the net population along with the changes in five district including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island between 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the first table shows that the total papulation has increased over two centuries. Whereas, the contribution of manhattan had declined over the period making other cities contribution to grow.

The net papulation was 76216 which rose substantially to [redacted phone] in 2000. The major contribution in 1800 was from manhanttans which was 76% which dropped dramatically to 19% in 2000.

The contribution from Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island was 24% in 1800 which doubled in 1900 and become 46%. It further rose sharply to 81% in 2000 and became the major contributor of net papulation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: New York’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. The comparison between 1800 and 2000 is relevant, and you also include the 1900 share for the other districts. However, some key information is missing or inaccurate: the total in 1800 was 79,216, not “76216,” and the 1900 figures for the total population and Manhattan are not reported. The statement that the other districts’ share “doubled” is also imprecise: it rose from 24% to 46%. The response is 122 words, below the required 150, so the account is too brief to develop the comparisons fully. Include the missing stage and check figures carefully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the population changes. Its progression from the overall total to Manhattan and then the other districts is generally easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Whereas,” and “It further” help signal relationships between ideas. However, the overview’s “Whereas” creates an incomplete contrast, and the short body paragraphs leave the comparison across all three years underdeveloped. Some references are also unclear: “other cities” does not precisely identify the other districts, and “It” in the final sentence refers back to their contribution rather than a clearly named subject. Use complete contrast structures and organise the figures by year or by district to make comparisons more explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for describing change, including “increased,” “declined,” “dropped dramatically,” and “rose sharply.” These choices make the main trends understandable, and “major contributor” is an appropriate attempt at more formal reporting language. However, several word choices and collocations are imprecise: “net population” is not the natural term for the total population, and “other cities” is inaccurate for the districts. “Contribution” is repeated often, while “doubled” does not accurately describe the rise from 24% to 46%. Spelling errors such as “papulation” and “manhanttans” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise terms such as “population share” and “accounted for,” and proofread spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “which rose substantially” and a contrast in the overview. The main meaning is usually clear, but some grammatical errors remain. The opening has subject–verb disagreement (“The tables provides”) and an incomplete construction in “including Manhattan … between 1800 to 2000.” The overview’s “Whereas” clause is not joined to a complete contrasting clause, and “making other cities contribution to grow” has an awkward, faulty structure. There are also errors in “which doubled … and become,” where the verb form should remain consistent. Use complete sentences, check agreement and verb forms, and practise accurate comparative structures such as “while X fell, Y rose.”

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