Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-08

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 below illustrate the change in total population of New York in total and also in its five districts from 1800 and 2000.

Overall,their is a sudden increase in population of New York city in a given period of time. Whereas Manhattan was considered as the most populated one in 1800, while other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) have more residents than Manhattan in 2000.

Initially the total New York population was quite low upto 79,216 in 1800, But there is a clear rise of inhabitant seen throughout next 100 year and it endup at 3,437,202 in 1900. Population of all districts in city seen to get doubled in next 100 years and at the end of 2000 it raises upto 8,009,185.

On the otherhand, district of Manhattan accounts for the most percent of inhabitant in New York upto 76 percent of population living their where as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island comprises of only 24 percent in the same century. Clear rose is seen in next 100 year when other districts population contain 46 percent of total and reached upto 1,587,109 in 1900 while Manhattan peaked upto 1,850,093 on same century. In the end Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island remained as the most populated one upto 6,471,089 which is 81 percent of total population.In comparison with Manhattan which shows a clear decline in last year and cantain only 19 percent of total population of New York.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response covers the main features and gives a clear overview: the city’s population grew substantially, and the balance shifted from Manhattan to the other four districts. The key figures are generally reported accurately, including the city totals and the 2000 shares of 81% and 19%. You also compare Manhattan’s peak in 1900 with its later decline. However, “Population of all districts in city seen to get doubled” is an over-generalisation: the total city population more than doubled from 1900 to 2000, while Manhattan’s population actually fell. Make the distinction between the total and individual district trends more precise, and describe the 1800–1900 changes without implying that every district doubled.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs covering the overall population and district shares. The progression from 1800 to 2000 is generally easy to follow, and contrasts such as “Whereas Manhattan…” and “In comparison with Manhattan…” help connect the main trends. This meets the lower-band expectation of an overall coherent arrangement and shows some flexibility in linking ideas. However, several transitions are mechanical or awkward, including “On the otherhand” and repeated use of “in the end.” Some sentences also combine multiple figures and comparisons, making the relationships harder to track. Use clearer topic sentences and separate the city-wide trend from the district comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “population,” “accounts for,” “decline,” and “most populated,” so the main information remains understandable. There is also some attempt to vary wording rather than repeat “increase.” However, the range and control are limited by frequent inaccurate or unnatural choices: “clear rose” should be “clear rise,” “inhabitant” is not natural for population figures, and “peaked upto” does not accurately express the 1900 value. Spelling and word-form errors such as “cantain” and “endup” are noticeable. Aim for standard chart language and accurate collocations, such as “the population stood at” and “accounted for.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “Whereas” and a relative clause in “which shows a clear decline.” However, complex constructions are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to affect fluency. Examples include “from 1800 and 2000” instead of “from 1800 to 2000,” “their is” instead of “there is,” and “it endup at” instead of “it ended at.” Agreement and sentence construction are also problematic in “Population of all districts in city seen to get doubled,” while punctuation and spacing are inconsistent. Build accuracy first with clear past-tense sentences, then add subordinate clauses and check each sentence for a complete subject and verb.

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