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 first table chart illustrates the changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000, whereas the second and third tables display the changes in the population of the five districts of New York City over the same period, which were Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.

Overall, it is evident that over the years, the population increased in New York City. Moreover, Manhattan recorded a decline in the number of people over the years, whereas Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island increased.

To begin with, talking about New York City(all five districts), in 1800, the population was 79216, which increased to [redacted phone] in 1900. Then the number significantly rose to [redacted phone] in 2000, which was the highest number among all years.

Furthermore, 76% of the total population of New York City was in Manhattan, which was 60515 in 1800. Over the years, the percentage declined and reached to 54% in 1900 and 19% in the year 2000. Turning to other districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, the percentage of the total community was 24% in 1800, which rose to 46% in 1900, to [redacted phone] people living there, and finally in 2000, the population increased to 81%, where [redacted phone] people lived.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main features and provide a clear overview: the city’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share declined and the other districts’ share increased. The figures you report match the tables, including the totals and the district-group percentages. This meets the task well, and the overview shows some effective selection of key trends. To make the account more complete and precise, develop the comparisons between population counts as well as percentages. For example, Manhattan’s population rose from 60,515 to 1,850,093 by 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 in 2000; your overview says it declined over the years, which obscures this initial rise. Also clarify that the figures for the four other districts are combined, rather than describing them as if each district followed the same pattern.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, a summary of the main trends, and two paragraphs presenting the city total and district data. Sequencing is generally easy to follow, and transitions such as “Overall,” “To begin with,” and “Furthermore” help signal the stages of the report. However, some linking is mechanical, and the final paragraph combines several comparisons in a long sentence, making the relationship between percentages and population counts less clear. The phrase “Turning to other districts” also does not make explicit that the figures refer to the four districts collectively. Use clearer referencing and divide the final comparison into shorter units, grouping the percentage trend separately from the population figures.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “total population,” “declined,” “rose,” and “percentage,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal reporting language, such as “illustrates” and “recorded.” Some choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing tables, however. “First table chart” is redundant, “the percentage of the total community” is not an accurate collocation for population share, and “the highest number among all years” is awkward. Repetition of “population,” “increased,” and “over the years” also limits flexibility. Aim for concise, precise expressions such as “the table shows,” “accounted for,” and “reached a peak,” while distinguishing population totals from percentages.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a clear contrast with “whereas” and time clauses such as “which increased to… in 1900.” Most sentences communicate the intended trends, but some grammatical errors and punctuation issues remain. In “the percentage declined and reached to 54%,” the verb pattern is incorrect; use “fell to 54%.” The opening sentence is overloaded, and “New York City(all five districts)” needs spacing around the parenthesis. In the final sentence, the clause beginning “which rose to 46%” has an unclear reference, while “where 6471089 people lived” is an awkward relative construction. Use shorter sentences with explicit subjects, and check verb patterns, punctuation, and clause references.

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.