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 tables show the population changes in New York city and its five districts from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the total population in all districts is increased over the timeframe. Manhattan's population was at its peak in 1900, while other four districts large proportion of people living in cities in 2000.

Looking at the details, the whole population of New York city is increased, accounting for 79,216 people in 1800, before increasing marginally to 3,437,202 in 1900. This figure increased further to 8,009,185 by the end of the time period.

Moreover, Manhattan stood at the highest number of residents living in all districts had 60,515 people with 76% of share of the total population, before decreasing dramatically to 1,538,096 of residents in 2000. And the Manhattan's had 19% of share of the total population by the end of the period.

Regarding other districts had 24% share of total residents with 18,701 people in 1800, compared with 1,587,109 individuals in 1900. This figure surged significantly to 6,471,089 in 2000 and holds a 81% of the total population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main changes and include the key figures for the city total, Manhattan and the combined other districts. The overview also identifies two important features: Manhattan peaked in 1900, while the other districts accounted for a much larger share by 2000. However, the overview is not fully clear: “total population in all districts is increased” does not explain the overall scale of growth, and “other four districts large proportion” is imprecise. Some comparisons are underdeveloped, particularly the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts. Also, describing the rise to 3.4 million as “marginal” understates the change. A clearer overview and more precise comparisons would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview and separate detail sections for Manhattan and the other districts. This gives the reader a sensible route through the information, and linking phrases such as “Overall,” “Moreover” and “Regarding” help signal progression. The organisation is generally effective, though some connections are awkward or unclear. For example, “Manhattan stood at the highest number of residents living in all districts had…” combines ideas without a clear relationship, while “Regarding other districts had…” does not form a complete transition into the comparison. The overview could also guide the reader more directly toward the main contrast in population shares. More controlled linking and clearer sentence-to-sentence relationships would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing population data, including “peak,” “decreasing dramatically,” “surged significantly” and “share.” These choices help communicate the main trends, and the meaning is generally understandable. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, however. “Increased marginally” does not suit the very large rise from 79,216 to over 3.4 million, and “large proportion of people living in cities” is unclear in this context. Phrases such as “with 76% of share” and “the Manhattan’s” are also unnatural. Aim for precise data-reporting language and check whether modifiers accurately reflect the size of a change. This would make the vocabulary more natural and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses with “before” and “while,” and the main figures remain understandable. However, some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships between ideas difficult to follow. For example, “the total population … is increased” uses an incorrect verb form, and “Manhattan stood at the highest number … had 60,515” lacks a clear grammatical structure. There are also problems with articles and possessives in “the Manhattan’s had,” and the clause beginning “Regarding other districts had” is incomplete. Practise forming complete subject–verb clauses and maintaining consistent past-tense reporting. Greater control of these patterns would make your complex sentences clearer and more accurate.

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