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 initial table compares the overall changes in population in the City of New York. While the remaining two tables presents the changes in numbers of people per district in New York City, namely Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, from the year 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the data shows changes that the number of population in New York City had increased from the 20-year study period. Similarly, the third table which includes Brookly, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island had the same trend with the overall population of NYC, which is an increasing trend. Meanwhile, the second table which only presents the Manhattan district has an increased amount of people ate first, then decreased on the last year of the study.

The New York City initally had an overall population of 79,216. After 10 years, it increased almost four times the starting number. In year 2000, it rose up to 8,009,185, which was ten times more than the initial number of the population.

On the other hand, Manhattan district contributed the most population in 1800, with 76% of the total population, giving 60,515. Meanwhile, the remaining 24% of the population was contributed by the other districts with 18,701. Ten years later, Manhattan still have the most number of people living in their district with 54% of the overall population with 1,850,093. While the 46% was in other districts. In year 2000, the other districts contributed its highest number of overall population in New York City with 81% and shoot up their population from 46% to 81%, almost two times, with 6,471,089. Contrary to this, Manhattan had the least number of people in the year 2000, contributing 19% of the total population in NYC, with 1,538,096.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main population changes and make relevant comparisons between Manhattan and the other districts. The overview correctly identifies the citywide rise and Manhattan’s rise followed by a fall, while the figures and shares for 1800 and 2000 are generally reported accurately. This shows a clear grasp of the tables. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the data points are 1800, 1900 and 2000, not a “20-year study period” or “after 10 years,” and the city’s population did not increase fourfold from 79,216 to 3,437,202; it rose to more than forty times that figure. The 1900 total and the other districts’ 1900 population are also omitted. More precise reporting of all three dates would strengthen an otherwise relevant summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs presenting the figures. The contrast between Manhattan and the other districts is also signalled with phrases such as “On the other hand” and “Contrary to this.” However, progression is sometimes weakened by unclear or mechanical linking. For example, “After 10 years” and “Ten years later” do not match the table’s 100-year intervals, making the sequence difficult to follow. The overview also repeats the general idea of increase without clearly organising the key comparisons. Use the three dates consistently and group the citywide totals separately from the district shares; this would make the relationships between figures easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing change and comparison, including “increased,” “decreased,” “contributed,” and “overall population.” These choices help communicate the main trends. However, several expressions are imprecise or unnatural for a formal data summary, such as “number of population,” “had the same trend,” and “shoot up their population.” There are also spelling errors, including “Brookly” and “initally,” and some repetition of “population” and “district.” Aim for accurate collocations and more varied, neutral reporting language. For example, describe a figure as a population total or share, and use verbs such as “rose,” “fell,” or “accounted for” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “While” and “Meanwhile,” and the overall meaning is usually understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement, tense, and sentence construction. For instance, “the remaining two tables presents” should use a plural verb, while “Manhattan still have” needs a singular verb. “The New York City initally had” uses an unnecessary article, and “While the 46% was in other districts” is an incomplete sentence. The opening sentence also begins with “While” but does not form a complete contrast with a main clause. Check subject–verb agreement and ensure each sentence has a complete main clause; these corrections would improve accuracy while preserving your range of structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.