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 tables tells the information of the total population in New York City from the year 1800 to 2000, covering five different districts which are: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.

Overall, each districts have increased considerably throughout the period, while Manhattan, however, decreased eventually. The total population began relatively low, and by the end of the period, the population increased gradually.

In 1800, the total population stood at just 79,216 people with Manhattan experiencing the highest population at 76%. Following this, the other districts remained the lowest at 24% each. Subsequently, by 1900, the proportion for Manhattan decresed significantly at 54%, whereas the remaining districts continued to increase gradually to 46%. Total population rose to 3,437,202 people in this year.

Furthermore, by the year 2000, the total population in New York City rose up to 8,009,185. Manhattan continued to decrease with just under 20% of population, while other other districts increased progresively to 81% being the most populated districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall pattern: New York City’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. The response also includes the key total figures for all three years and relevant percentages, so the main features are supported with data. However, some details are unclear or imprecise: “each districts have increased” conflicts with Manhattan’s falling population between 1900 and 2000, and the other districts are described as “24% each,” although 24% is their combined share. The overview also says the total population increased “gradually,” which understates the scale of growth. Clarify that Manhattan’s population peaked in 1900, then declined, while the combined population of the other districts rose markedly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and chronological paragraphs covering 1800–1900 and 2000. This makes the information easy to follow, and transitions such as “Subsequently” and “Furthermore” help signal movement through the years. Some linking is mechanical, however, and the relationship between ideas is occasionally unclear. For example, “Following this” does not clearly connect the total population to the district comparison, while “the remaining districts continued to increase gradually” could refer to population or percentage. The overview also repeats the idea of growth without clearly distinguishing total population from Manhattan’s share. Use more precise references and organise comparisons around the changing shares and populations.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “stood at,” “rose,” “decreased significantly,” and “proportion.” These choices generally communicate the data, and the reader can understand the comparisons. Some word choices and collocations are imprecise or repetitive: “increased gradually” does not accurately convey the large overall rise, “the lowest at 24% each” misrepresents the combined figure, and “rose up to” is less natural than “rose to.” There are also spelling errors in “decresed” and “progresively,” plus the repeated “other other.” Aim for precise terms such as “combined share,” “accounted for,” and “declined,” and check spelling and repetition during proofreading.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast in “Manhattan, however, decreased eventually” and the time clauses beginning “by 1900” and “by the year 2000.” Meaning is generally clear, but some grammatical errors remain. The opening has subject–verb disagreement in “The tables tells,” and “each districts have increased” has both agreement and number problems. In “the total population began relatively low,” the sentence needs a clearer grammatical construction, such as “the total population was relatively low.” There are also awkward article and preposition patterns, including “54%” where “to 54%” is needed after “decreased.” Review agreement with plural subjects and the verb patterns used to describe changes.

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