Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-11

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 changes in the total population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. The second and third tables show the proportion of the total population and it changes between Manhattan and other four districts of the city over the same time period.

Overall, the population increased of New York City over the time. Though Manhattan had the highest proportion of the population in 1800 and 1900, in 2000 most of the resident lived in other four districts.

In 1800, New York City only had 79,216 population. This figure increased to 8,009,185 in 2000 after reaching to 3,437,202 in 1900. Manhattan had the most proportion of the population in 1800, which was 60,515, that represent the 76% of the total poputaion. And rest 24% was in other four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) which was 18.701.

In 1900, the population of Manhattan increased to 18,50,093 (54%) before decreased in 2000 which was 1,538,096 (19%). On the other hand, other four districts population increased over the time to 6,471,089 (81%) in 2000 after 1,587,109 (46%) in 1900.

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 became dominant by 2000. The figures are generally well selected, including the total populations and the district-group percentages. This meets the task well, with some features already clearly highlighted, but not all comparisons are equally precise. For example, the overview says Manhattan had the highest proportion in 1800 and 1900, but does not explicitly note that its population itself fell between 1900 and 2000 while the city total continued to grow. Also, “the second and third tables” is inaccurate because the district information is presented in one table. A more complete overview and sharper comparison of population versus share would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable four-paragraph structure: introduction, overview, and two paragraphs of figures. Its progression from the city-wide totals to Manhattan and the other districts is generally easy to follow, and linking phrases such as “Overall,” “On the other hand,” and “before” help signal relationships. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or unclear. The opening repeats “table” and “population,” while “the second and third tables” does not accurately describe the presentation. In the detail paragraph, “And rest 24%” begins a sentence fragment-like continuation, and the shift between population counts and percentages is not always signposted clearly. Use more precise referencing and group related comparisons together so the reader can follow the contrast without relying on repeated connectors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough task-related vocabulary to communicate the main trends, including “proportion,” “increased,” “decreased,” and “total population.” The wording “On the other hand” also helps express the contrast between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the range is limited and several choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “increased of New York City,” “had the most proportion,” and “most of the resident.” These make the description less natural and occasionally less precise. There are also spelling and number-formatting slips, including “poputaion” and “18.701,” which should be written consistently as 18,701. Aim for accurate trend language and standard collocations, rather than repeating “population” or using “most” where “largest share” is more exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex forms, including a concessive overview sentence beginning “Though” and a comparison using “before.” The main information remains understandable, but grammatical control is uneven and errors occur across several sentence patterns. Examples include “the population increased of New York City,” “it changes between Manhattan,” and “which was 60,515, that represent the 76%,” where word order, clause structure, and agreement are faulty. The sentence “before decreased in 2000” also needs a subject and a correctly formed verb phrase. Articles and plurals are inconsistent in “the rest 24%” and “most of the resident.” Practise building accurate comparison clauses, for example, “Manhattan’s population rose to … before falling to …,” and check subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries.

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

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