Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-13

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 given table provide us the information of changes in population of New York city over two centuries in five districts ( Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten island ) over a same period from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, it is clear that the population in the New York city has increased drastically over a period of time. While population in Manhattan was significantly high in the begining.However, it declined significantly making least population in the district. In contrast, population in other four combined districts has increased dramatically.

In terms of population in New York city, in all five district. It was observed that in 1800, century the population stood at 79,216 has increased toin 8,009,185 by 2000. Additionally, in 1800 the population in Manhattan district was highest of 60,515 which was accounted for 76% of the total population. Whereas it declined to 19% of the total population it stood at 1,538,096.

In contrast, other districts population combinely which was accounted for 18,701 in 1800 centuryof the total population of 24% has subsequently rise to 157,109 in 1900 of 46%. Moreover, it was obesrved to be increased to 6,471,089 and 81% of the total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall contrast: New York City grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the combined share of the other districts rose. You also include several relevant figures, including the 1800 and 2000 city totals and Manhattan’s population in those years. This covers the task well, with some of the key features already selected. However, the 1900 city total is omitted, and the other-district figure for 1900 is inaccurate: it was 1,587,109, not 157,109. The overview also says Manhattan became the district with the “least population,” which is not established by these tables, since they group the other four districts together. To strengthen the response, report the 1900 figures accurately and distinguish the combined group from individual districts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs presenting figures. The contrast signalled by “While” and “In contrast” helps readers follow the main comparison. However, progression is weakened by awkward or unclear links, particularly “In terms of population in New York city, in all five district. It was observed that…” and the final paragraph’s sequence of figures. Some transitions are also mechanical, and the relationship between the 1900 and 2000 data is not consistently made explicit. Organise the details chronologically within each comparison, and use complete sentences to connect each figure to its year and share. This would make the overall arrangement clearer and cohesion less distracting.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “increased drastically,” “declined significantly,” “accounted for,” and “in contrast,” so the main trends are generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “combinely,” “over a same period,” and “making least population” do not express the intended ideas naturally. There are also spelling errors such as “begining” and “obesrved,” alongside inconsistent capitalisation of place names. These issues make the language less precise, especially when describing the combined districts. Aim for accurate, conventional phrases such as “the other four districts combined” and “accounted for 24%,” and check spelling and word forms during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex forms, including the contrastive sentence beginning “While population in Manhattan…” and clauses introduced by “which.” However, control is uneven, and several sentence structures are incomplete or difficult to follow. For example, “In terms of population in New York city, in all five district” is a fragment, while “the population stood at 79,216 has increased toin 8,009,185” combines clauses without a workable grammatical link. There are also errors in agreement and articles, as in “The given table provide us” and “over a same period.” Use a clear subject and verb in each sentence, and practise accurate past-tense comparisons, such as “the population rose from X to Y.”

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.