Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-09

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 given data illustartes the variation in the total population of New York City as well as the changes in its five districts between 1800 to 2000

Overall, there is surge in total population of New York City throughout the centuries. Out of all districts, Manhattan had the highest population share in 1800 however it declined over the centuries. In contrast, other districts had low total population percentage in 1800 and surged over the years

In 1800, New York City had a population of 79,216 and it rose to 3,437,202 in 1900. It more than doubled in its population to 8,009,185 by 2000

Manhattan had a population of 60,515 which ammounted to 76% of the total population of New York City . In 1900, it rose to 1,850,093 however the population percentage declined to 54%. The population decreased to 1,538,096 in 2000 and the population share decreased to 19%

Other disctricts had a population of 18,701 (24% of the total), however it saw a great surge in 1900, the population increased to 1,587,109 in which ammounted to 46% of the total population. The population rose to 6,417,089 which is about 81% of the total population of New York City

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main changes and provide a clear overview: the city’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. Most figures are accurately reported, including the 1800 and 1900 totals and Manhattan’s populations. However, the final figure for the other districts is inaccurate: the table gives 6,471,089, not 6,417,089. Also, “more than doubled” understates the increase from 1900 to 2000, which was more than twice the 1900 total but would be clearer as a precise comparison. The overview identifies the key shift in population share, though the contrast between Manhattan’s peak population in 1900 and its later decline could be stated more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged in a sensible sequence: an introduction and overview are followed by the city-wide figures and then the district data. This makes the main comparisons easy to locate. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In contrast,” and “however” help connect ideas, although “however” is repeated and sometimes creates an awkward relationship between clauses. The final paragraph also combines the 1900 and 2000 figures in a long sequence, so the comparison is less clear than it could be. Use separate sentences or clearer time markers to show the progression, and make sure each paragraph has a distinct focus. Overall, the organisation is coherent, but cohesion is occasionally mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “population share,” “declined,” “surge,” and “increased,” and the meaning is generally clear. However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise or repetitive: “there is surge” is not a natural expression, and “great surge” repeats the same idea without adding precision. Spelling errors such as “illustartes,” “ammounted,” and “disctricts” also reduce accuracy. Prefer concise, conventional reporting language, for example “the population rose sharply” or “accounted for 76%.” Varying “population” with “figure” or “proportion” where appropriate would also make the account more fluent and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses joined with “however” and “which,” and the main information remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, though. The opening phrase needs “between 1800 and 2000,” while “there is surge” is missing an article. In “the population increased to 1,587,109 in which amounted to 46%,” the clause structure is faulty; write “which amounted to 46%” or, more clearly, “representing 46% of the total.” Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing full stops and an unnecessary space before a full stop. Check articles, clause links, and sentence boundaries to improve control while retaining varied structures.

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