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 table details the overall population of New York City and statistics concerning the surrounding bouroughs compared to Manhattan in 1800 to 2000. The overall perspective of the growth with increasing population is heading towards outside of Manhattan. It is clearly seen that the dominance of other districts compared to Manhattan gets more as time passes.

In the year 1800, the majority of New York City's total population (79,216) was held in Manhattan (60,515 or 76%), whereas other districts held a minor part (18,701 or 24%).

Subsequently, over a few decades the majority population had a nice competition of Manhattan (1,850,096 or 54%) and other districts (1,587,109). The total population also figured out to 3,437,202.

Over hundred years, the residents got increased in other districts by 81% with a significant number of 6,471,089. On the other hand, in Manhattan, population slipped to 19% with left overs of 1,538,096. The overall residents in New york City (in year 2000) got increased by 8,009,185.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main pattern: Manhattan held most of the city’s population in 1800, while the other districts accounted for a much larger share by 2000. You also include the overall totals and relevant district figures, so the response addresses the task. However, the overview is vague (“growth … heading towards outside of Manhattan”), and the comparison for 1900 is not fully clear: the other districts’ share of 46% is omitted, making the near balance with Manhattan harder to see. The 2000 figures are reported accurately, but “increased by 81%” confuses the percentage of the total with the amount of growth. State that the other districts made up 81% of the population, and summarise the contrasting trends more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall sequence, moving from an introduction and overview to 1800, 1900 and 2000. Time markers such as “In the year 1800,” “Subsequently” and “Over hundred years” help readers follow the chronology, and the contrast signalled by “On the other hand” is relevant. However, the overview and body are not always connected smoothly, and some linking phrases feel mechanical or unclear. For example, “Subsequently, over a few decades” does not accurately describe the 100-year interval between the listed dates, while “The overall population also figured out to” interrupts the comparison. Organise each period around a direct comparison of Manhattan and the other districts, and use transitions that clarify the relationship between figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some appropriate topic vocabulary, including “overall population,” “majority,” “significant number” and “residents,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts at less common phrasing, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a formal data summary. “Nice competition” does not describe two population shares being close, “population slipped” is imprecise, and “left overs” is unsuitable for referring to residents. “Bouroughs” is misspelled, and “got increased” is an awkward collocation. Aim for precise, neutral reporting language such as “accounted for,” “declined” and “rose,” and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You produce a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast clause in “whereas other districts held a minor part” and a comparison introduced by “On the other hand.” Most of the data remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and awkward sentence constructions reduce accuracy. For example, “The overall perspective of the growth … is heading” has an unclear subject and an unsuitable verb pattern; “over a few decades” does not fit the stated dates; and “The overall residents … got increased by 8,009,185” uses an incorrect construction for reporting a total. There are also issues with articles and prepositions, as in “in 1800 to 2000.” Use direct sentence patterns, such as “The population increased to…” and “Between 1800 and 1900…,” and proofread verb forms and sentence structure.

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

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