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 showed the percentage breakdown of population changes of New York City along with its five different regions from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the combined population of New York grew rapidly throughout the period. In addition, Manhattan shared a large proportion of population in New York City while the number of people in other districts changed significantly over the years.

In 1800, the total population of New York was approximately 79000 which was growing considerably by forthcoming years and stood at around 80 lakhs in the year

2000.

The Manhattan district faced a dramatic decline in its population over three centuries. In 1800, 76% part of total population of New York City came from Manhattan. While the population increaced the percentage of its share in New York City dropped continuing by the year 2000.

Over the period, there was a significant rise of population in four district of New York City. In 1900, the total proportion of these districts in New York City was almost double by its previous recorded year 1800. 81% of masses in four districts contributed a largest share of population to New York City which indicates that the population rose sharply over the centuries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the broad rise in New York City’s total population and the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts, which are the key features. The figures of about 79,000 in 1800 and roughly 8 million in 2000 are accurate, and you note that Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19%. However, some important details are incomplete or unclear: the total also rose to 3.44 million in 1900, and Manhattan’s population itself increased to 1.85 million before declining to 1.54 million by 2000. The statement that Manhattan’s population declined “over three centuries” is therefore misleading. Develop the intermediate-year comparisons and distinguish population numbers from percentage shares more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the overall total and district patterns. This gives the reader a coherent general progression, and linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In addition,” and “Over the period” help signal relationships. However, the organisation is weakened by unclear references and some mechanical connections. For example, “the number of people in other districts changed significantly” does not specify the direction of change, while “which indicates that the population rose sharply” repeats an idea rather than adding a clear comparison. The final paragraph also moves between proportions and population without a smooth distinction. Grouping the figures by year or by Manhattan versus the other districts, and using clearer references to each measure, would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “combined population,” “proportion,” “dramatic decline,” and “rose sharply,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for describing statistical data. “Percentage breakdown of population changes” does not accurately describe the tables, and “Manhattan shared a large proportion of population” is awkward. “Four district” and “81% of masses” are also unsuitable expressions; the latter is especially unclear. There are spelling errors such as “increaced,” and “forthcoming years” is not a natural way to refer to later years in a chart. Aim for precise collocations such as “accounted for,” “population share,” and “the remaining districts,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “while” and “which,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In “the total population … which was growing,” the relative clause has an unclear reference; “which increased” would connect the trend more directly to the population. “While the population increaced the percentage … dropped continuing” is structurally incomplete and lacks clear punctuation. There are also agreement and number issues in “four district,” and the sentence beginning “81% of masses … which indicates” has an unclear grammatical relationship between its clauses. Use complete, clearly punctuated comparisons, and check subject–verb links and singular/plural forms when revising.

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.