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 provides data on the variation in the total population of New York city between 1800 and 2000, while the second and third table illustrate the changes in the population of the other five districts of the city over the same period.

Overall, the number of population increased significantly throughout the years in New York city, while the proportion of the total population declined considerably over the three years. Meanwhile, the percentage of the population of other districts rose across the all three years.

In 1800, the population of New York city stood at 79,216, and this figure increased dramatically in 1900, at around 3,437,202. In 2000, the number of population rose significantly to around 8,009,185.

In Manhattan, the percentage of ttotal population in 1800 stood at 76%, which decreased further to 54% in 1900, and this figure declined in 2000, stood at 19%. In contrast, other districts population increased considerably across all the three years, stood at 24%, 46% and then 81%, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall pattern: New York’s total population rose sharply, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share increased. The figures you give for the city total and the percentage shares match the tables, and the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is relevant. However, the response does not report the district population figures, which are an important part of the data, and the overview’s claim that the proportion of the total population declined is unclear because it does not specify Manhattan. The opening also mistakenly calls the districts “the other five,” although Manhattan is included in the district data. To strengthen the response, distinguish population totals from percentages and include the striking change in Manhattan’s actual population, which peaked in 1900 before falling by 2000.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about the city total and then district shares. This gives the reader a generally logical route through the information. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Meanwhile,” and “In contrast” help signal the main comparisons. However, the overview’s reference to “the proportion” is not clearly tied to Manhattan, and the final paragraph combines population and percentage language in a way that makes the comparison less precise. Repeated patterns such as “stood at … and this figure …” also make the progression somewhat mechanical. Use clearer topic sentences and refer explicitly to “Manhattan’s share” and “the combined share of the other districts” to make connections more exact.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of trend vocabulary, including “increased dramatically,” “declined considerably,” and “rose significantly,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are unnatural or imprecise: “the number of population” should be “the population,” and “the percentage of the population of other districts” is better expressed as “the other districts’ share of the total.” “Variation” is also less suitable than “change” in this context. The repeated use of “significantly,” “considerably,” and “stood at” limits flexibility, while the typo “ttotal” detracts from accuracy. Aim for precise terms that distinguish population totals from proportions, and vary trend language without adding unnecessary intensifiers.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a subordinate clause in the opening and contrastive structures such as “while” and “In contrast.” Most of the data remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “the number of population increased” has an awkward noun construction, and “this figure declined in 2000, stood at 19%” lacks a grammatical link between the two verbs; write “this figure declined to 19% by 2000.” The phrase “across the all three years” also has an unnecessary article, and “other districts population” needs a possessive form. These issues show that more complex sentence patterns are not yet consistently controlled. Check verb links, articles, and possessives, and use a wider range of accurate sentence 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.