Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-12

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 three tables illustrate the total population of The Big Apple from 1800 to 2000, with details of its five districts. The tables define a massive surge over the years.

Looking at the year 1800, overall population of the city was 79216 with 76% of population covering with the most numbers 60515 with 76% and 24% with numbers 18701 in other four districts Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island. In the year 1900, the population rises up to [redacted phone] but this time there was minor change in Manhattan with [redacted phone] from 60515 and the percentage decreases from 76 to 54 but in comparison with other districts population was less with numbers [redacted phone] but the percentage change from a substantial margin 24% to 46%. Following up the trend, in year 2000 percentage of population in Manhattan plummeted to only 19% with numbers [redacted phone] whereas, remaining districts combine population rises up to 81% with number of populations [redacted phone] with [redacted phone] in all over the New York City.

In conclusion, from the starting years of 1800 major part of the populated in Manhattan but as the time passed, residents migrated to others districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: New York’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. You also include relevant figures for all three years, and the final comparison between 19% and 81% is useful. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: in 1900 the other districts had 1,587,109 people, not 1,584,109, and describing their population as “less” does not make clear that it was lower than Manhattan’s. The overview is also brief, and the conclusion’s claim that residents “migrated” is not established by the tables, which show population changes rather than their cause. Make the key comparisons more explicit and avoid unsupported explanations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a chronological account of the three years, and a concluding statement. Time markers such as “Looking at the year 1800,” “In the year 1900,” and “Following up the trend” help the reader follow the sequence. This coherent overall arrangement is a strength. However, the main body is largely one long paragraph, and several ideas are crowded into lengthy sentences, especially the 1900 comparison. Connectors such as “but this time” and “Following up the trend” feel mechanical or imprecise, while “with 8009185 in all over the New York City” leaves the relationship between figures unclear. Separate the comparisons into shorter, logically grouped sentences and use clearer references to the two population groups.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “population,” “districts,” “percentage,” and “plummeted,” and “massive surge” conveys the broad growth trend. There is also an attempt to vary wording rather than repeat only basic terms. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a data report: “the tables define a massive surge,” “population covering with,” “the most numbers,” and “percentage change from a substantial margin” obscure the intended meaning. “Residents migrated” also introduces a cause not shown by the data. Aim for precise reporting collocations such as “the population stood at,” “accounted for,” and “the share declined.” Use neutral, factual language rather than conversational labels such as “The Big Apple.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses linked with “but,” “whereas,” and “as,” and the overall meaning can generally be followed. However, control is uneven, particularly in the long sentences that combine several figures and comparisons. Examples include “overall population of the city was 79216 with 76% of population covering with,” where articles and sentence structure are problematic, and “in comparison with other districts population was less,” which lacks a clear grammatical comparison. There are also errors in tense and agreement, such as “the population rises” within a past-time account and “remaining districts combine population rises.” Use past simple consistently for the historical figures, check articles and plural forms, and divide complex comparisons into shorter sentences.

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.