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 tables illustrate the information about the changes in the total population of New york and its five districts: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island; from the period 1800 to 2000.

The combined population of all five districts of New York city in 1800 consisted of 79,216 individuals which rose drastically to 3,437,202 in 1900 and 8,009,185 in 2000.

In 1800, the Manhattan district made up 76% of the total population of the city by residing 60,515 individuals while, other four districts made up a combined population of 18,701 in the same year. A century later Manhattan emerged as the highest population contributer of the city having [redacted phone] individuals but a decline in percentage was noted that is 54%, 22% less than the year 1800. Other district holds the same position once again but a rise in its contributing percentage was increased by 22% than last recorded in 1800.

Commencing towards the year 2000. Population of city rose to eight million individuals. Highest among the last two centuries. Manhattan district faced a major decline in its population contributing only 19% of the total population. On the contrary, other 4 districts rose to a massive 6,471,089 individual making up 81% of the city's total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main changes across all three years and include the key figures for the city total, Manhattan, and the other districts. The clearest comparison is the shift in population share: Manhattan falls from 76% to 19%, while the other districts rise from 24% to 81%. However, the overview is not clearly separated or fully developed, and some comparisons are imprecise. For example, “Other district holds the same position once again” is unclear, since the other districts do not become the largest group until 2000; in 1900 Manhattan remains larger. Also, the 22% change is a percentage-point difference, not simply a percentage increase. State the overall pattern directly, then support it with accurate comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a generally coherent sequence: it introduces the tables, reports the citywide totals, and then compares Manhattan with the other districts across the years. Paragraphing also helps distinguish the earlier data from the 2000 figures. This meets the lower level securely, and there are some effective links, such as “A century later” and “On the contrary.” To make progression more consistently clear, give the overview before the detailed figures and use more precise references. Phrases such as “Other district holds the same position once again” and “last recorded in 1800” make the comparison difficult to follow. Avoid abrupt fragments such as “Commencing towards the year 2000” and connect each paragraph’s main point explicitly to the population-share shift.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing numerical change, including “rose drastically,” “decline,” “contributing,” and “making up.” These choices allow the reader to understand the main trends, and you attempt more formal wording. However, some expressions are inaccurate or unnatural for a data report: “by residing 60,515 individuals,” “population contributer,” and “a rise in its contributing percentage was increased” obscure otherwise clear information. “Highest among the last two centuries” is also an awkward way to describe the 2000 total. Choose precise reporting collocations such as “accounted for,” “population share,” and “increased to,” and check spelling and capitalization, including “New York” and “contributor.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses linked with “while” and “but,” and the main figures remain understandable. Some errors in sentence structure, agreement, articles, and punctuation nevertheless reduce accuracy. For example, “other four districts made up” needs “the other four districts,” while “Other district holds” has a number and tense mismatch. The construction “a rise … was increased” is also grammatically awkward, and “Commencing towards the year 2000.” is a sentence fragment. Use complete sentences and keep past-tense reporting consistent. A careful edit for articles, singular/plural agreement, and sentence boundaries would make your varied structures more controlled.

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