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 first table illustrates the changes in the total population of New York city commencing from 1800 to 2000. in addition to that the other two tabular graphs depict the number of citizens in five districts of the city over the same period.

Overall, the population of New York city showed a positive trend as it continuously increased over the years. Similarly, the residents of other districts also increased over this period. In contrast, the population of Manhattan decreased over the time.

Firstly, the overall citizens of the city New York increased drastically over the period of 200 years. While the population was 79,216 only in 1800. It rose in the year 1900 as a result the number of people were 3,437,202. Moreover, in the year 2000 the the numbers reached 8,009,185.

Secondly, according to the data unlike Manhattan other districts of New York have improved the percentage of their total population as in 1800 the percentage were 24% which then reached 46% by 1900 followed by 81% in 2000. On the other hand Manhattan showed negative trend. Which accounted for only 19% in the year 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall pattern accurately: New York’s total population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share grew. The figures given for the city total and the percentage changes in the other districts match the tables. This covers the central features and shows some comparison, supporting a strong response to the task. However, the district comparison is not fully developed: you omit Manhattan’s population figures for 1800 and 1900, and do not report the other districts’ population totals. Also, saying Manhattan “decreased” is imprecise unless you distinguish its population, which rose to 1900 before falling, from its share, which declined throughout. Include these key contrasts to make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The sequence from the city-wide figures to the district comparison is easy to follow, and signposts such as “Overall,” “Firstly,” and “On the other hand” help guide the reader. However, the linking is sometimes mechanical, and a few sentence boundaries interrupt the flow: “While the population was 79,216 only in 1800. It rose…” leaves a dependent clause as a fragment, while “On the other hand Manhattan showed negative trend. Which accounted…” also breaks one idea into incomplete sentences. Some references, such as “the percentage,” could be more specific about which district or measure is meant. Smoother connections and clearer referencing would strengthen progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “population,” “residents,” “percentage,” “increased drastically,” and “negative trend.” These choices make the main trends understandable, and you attempt some variation rather than repeating “population” throughout. However, several expressions are imprecise or unnatural for describing statistical data: “tabular graphs” is not an appropriate label for tables, “the overall citizens” confuses people with their population, and districts cannot “improve” their share. “Positive trend” and “negative trend” are also broad when the data can be described more precisely as rising or declining. Aim for accurate collocations such as “population figures,” “accounted for,” and “the proportion of residents.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex forms, including “as it continuously increased” and “which then reached 46%.” The main message remains understandable, but errors in sentence construction and control are noticeable. For example, “While the population was 79,216 only in 1800” is a dependent clause presented as a complete sentence, and “Which accounted for only 19%” is another fragment. There are also agreement and article errors in “the number of people were” and “showed negative trend,” as well as the repeated word in “the the numbers.” Capitalisation after full stops is inconsistent. Build complete sentences around subordinate clauses, check subject–verb agreement, and proofread articles and punctuation.

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