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 provide data on changes in population of New York city and it's five districts over the period of two centuries from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the population of New York has grown exponentially and the data of the city districts represents Manhattan initially, to be the most populated state but with the passage of time the other four states were dominated to be more populated than Manhattan.

In 1800, 79,216 was the total population of New York of which 76% lived in Manhattan whereas, 24% were the residents of other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island). After a century, the total population of New York grew at an exponential rate and accounted to be 3,437,202 out of which Manhattan population dropped and appeared to 54% of the total population rest of the 46% lived in the other four states.

Lastly after another centurty in the year 2000, the total population of new york city was further increased by around 4 million people and the population in Manattahn saw a sudden decline and was around 1.5 million that only accounted for 19% of the total population. Whereas, the big proportion of the total population was living in the other four states.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall changes: the city’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share increased. The figures for 1800 and 1900, including the 76%/24% and 54%/46% splits, are reported accurately, and you note Manhattan’s approximate population in 2000. This gives the response a relevant overview and supports it with key data. However, the final comparison is less fully developed: the other districts reached 6,471,089, or 81% of the total, but you describe this only as a “big proportion.” Also, “exponentially” is not established by the three data points, and the claim that the other districts “dominated” is imprecise. Include the 2000 share and use more measured descriptions to make the comparisons clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear four-part structure, moving from an introduction and overview to the three time points in chronological order. Time markers such as “In 1800,” “After a century,” and “Lastly” help readers follow the progression, and the comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts are generally easy to locate. Some linking is mechanical, however, and the long sentences in the body combine several figures and ideas, making relationships less clear. For example, the 1900 sentence runs from the city total to Manhattan’s share and then to the remaining districts without a clean break. The final “Whereas” clause is also left as a fragment. Use shorter, more balanced sentences and connect each comparison explicitly to its corresponding percentage.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing change, including “total population,” “accounted for,” “decline,” and “proportion,” so the main information remains understandable. There is some range, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a formal data summary. “States” is used for the city’s districts, “dominated” does not clearly express that their population became larger, and “grew at an exponential rate” overstates what the table demonstrates. Spelling and word-form slips such as “centurty” and “Manattahn” also reduce precision. Aim for standard chart language and check spelling carefully; precise terms such as “districts,” “share,” “rose,” and “fell” will communicate the comparisons more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “whereas” and “out of which,” and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, some sentence structures are awkward or incomplete. The final sentence beginning “Whereas, the big proportion…” is a dependent clause without a main clause, while “the total population … was further increased” uses an unnecessarily passive construction. There are also errors in sentence boundaries and punctuation, such as the comma after “Whereas” and the long 1900 sentence, which would be clearer if divided. Practise forming complete comparisons with parallel structures—for example, state the city total first, then give Manhattan’s population and share, followed by the other districts’ figures.

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