Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-14

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 illustrates the changes in the total population of all five districts in New york city. The second table shows changes in population of Manhattan city, while the third table depicts the changes in population of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island over the same period.

Overall, it can be observed that the four other districts accounted for the highest population at the ending period, it also accounted for the lowest at the beginning year. Manhattan recorded the highest population in 1900.

The percentage of population accounted for in the year 1800 at Manhattan was 76%, which was significantly greater than the amount that was recorded at the other districts at 24%. Similary, at 1900, Manhattan also recorded the highest population at 54%, while the other districts were 46%. However, things changed in 2000, the other districts population grew significantly to 81%, while Manhattan exprienced very low population which was 19%.

Combining all cities, highest population occured in the year 2000, at 8,009,185, while the lowest occured in year 1800, at 79,216.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main shift in the districts’ shares: Manhattan falls from 76% to 19%, while the other districts rise from 24% to 81%. You also correctly report the city’s highest and lowest total populations and note Manhattan’s peak in 1900. This covers the key features and is more than a simple list of figures. However, the overview is not fully precise: saying the other districts had the “highest population” at the end and the “lowest” at the beginning would be clearer as a comparison of their share or combined population against Manhattan. The response also gives little detail about the total population’s growth between 1800 and 1900, so some features are less fully developed than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, details about the district shares, and a final comparison of the city totals. This makes the information easy to follow. Some linking is effective, particularly “However” to signal the change by 2000. At times, though, connections feel mechanical or unclear. The overview’s “it also accounted” has an uncertain reference, and “Combining all cities” does not clearly signal that you are returning to the total-population table. The paragraph about district percentages also repeats the same comparison pattern rather than grouping the changes more smoothly. Use clearer references and transitions to show how each paragraph relates to the overview.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a suitable range of task-related vocabulary, including “accounted for,” “recorded,” “significantly,” and “grew.” These choices help describe changes and comparisons, although some are repeated or used imprecisely. For example, “Manhattan city” is not the table’s label, and “very low population” is awkward when describing a reduced share. “Highest population at 54%” also confuses a percentage share with an absolute population figure. Spelling slips such as “Similary,” “exprienced,” and “occured” reduce accuracy. Aim for precise terms such as “population share,” “combined population,” and “declined,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple sentences and more complex forms, including the relative clause “which was significantly greater” and the contrast introduced by “while.” Most of the meaning remains clear, but some sentence structures and punctuation need more control. In “Overall, it can be observed that …, it also accounted…,” two independent clauses are joined with a comma, and “it” does not clearly identify the subject. The sentence beginning “However, things changed in 2000” also joins clauses with a comma. There are some article and phrasing issues, as in “in year 1800”; write “in 1800” or “in the year 1800.” Vary sentence patterns while checking clause boundaries and references.

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