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 first table illustrates the changes in the total population in New York City between 1800 and 2000. The second and third tables demonstrates changes in the population of five different districts of United States over the same period.

Overall, population of New York City increased significantly throughout the period. In contrast, Manhattan experienced drop in percentage, compared with other districts that rose considerably in proportion of population over tha same period.

Firstly, population of New York City in all five districts rose significantly from 79,216 in 1800 to 3,437,202 in 1900, afterwards it further increased to 8,009,185 in 2000. Turning to the percentage of districts, population of Manhattan was 60,515 and percentage was 76% in 1800, while it decreased steadily to 54% with 1,850,093 population in 1900, after wards it further significantly drop to 19%, with increase in population that was 1,538,096 in 2000.

Turning to the remaining other districts, other districts experienced largest increased in population as well as percentage. In 1800 population was 18,701 with 24% of total population, while it increased considerably to 1,587,109 population and percentage also climb up to 46%, moreover, population and percentage further increased to 6,471,089 with records highest percentage, at 81% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main changes and provide a clear overview: the city’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share grew. The figures you report match the tables, including the overall totals and the district populations and percentages. This gives the response a solid account of the task. However, some comparisons could be developed more precisely. For example, Manhattan’s population did not simply decline throughout: it rose from 60,515 to 1,850,093 by 1900, then fell to 1,538,096. Making that contrast explicit would sharpen the key feature. The overview could also state that the other districts overtook Manhattan in population by 2000, rather than describing only their rising share.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a coherent overall structure, moving from an introduction and overview to the city total, Manhattan, and the remaining districts. Time markers such as “in 1800,” “in 1900,” and “in 2000” help readers follow the data. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the main comparisons are generally easy to locate. Some linking is mechanical or unclear, however: “while,” “afterwards,” and “moreover” are repeatedly used to connect long sequences of figures, and the final sentence’s “with records highest percentage … respectively” makes the relationship between the population and percentage less clear. Use shorter sentences and make each comparison explicit to create smoother progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “increased significantly,” “percentage,” “proportion,” and “remaining districts,” so the data can be described clearly. There are also attempts at more varied phrasing, such as “experienced” and “rose considerably.” Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive, though: “experienced largest increased” and “percentage also climb up” are not natural forms, while “further significantly drop” is awkward. Spelling and word-form slips such as “tha” and “after wards” also reduce precision. Aim for standard chart language and vary the verbs carefully; accurate phrases such as “accounted for,” “rose to,” and “fell to” would make the comparisons more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including comparisons with “while” and time clauses linked by “afterwards.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, and the figures are presented in recognisable sentence patterns. However, some grammatical errors recur. For example, “The second and third tables demonstrates” has subject–verb disagreement, and “Manhattan experienced drop” is missing an article. Verb forms are also inconsistent in “percentage also climb up” and “further significantly drop,” while several long sentences join multiple stages in ways that make the structure difficult to control. Check agreement, articles, and past-tense forms, and divide the data descriptions into shorter sentences to improve accuracy.

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