Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-16

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 illustrates the number of population in New York city in all five districts during 1800 to 2000. It is evident that in first 100 years, majority of the population resided in the Manhattan district of the New York city. Later, the percentage of population increased in other districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.

In 1800, out of 79,216 individuals residing in New York City, 76% resided in Manhattan, while only 24% lived in other five districts of the city.

Gradually, in 1900, the percentage of people living in Manhattan decreased to only 54% while percentage of people living in other districts rised to 46%.

Similarly, in 2000, the percentage of people living in Manhattan district reduced to only 19%, whereas the percentage increased enormously in other five districts to 81% which is almost 3.5 times more than the percentage of people living in 1800.

Additionally, the percentage of people living in Manhattan district also dropped to almost 3 times to the percentage of people living in 1800.

Conclusively, it can be said that with the passage of time and with the rise of almost 10 times of the total population in the New York city, people prefer to live more in other five districts of the New York city as compared to the Manhattan district.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main shift clearly: Manhattan held most of the city’s population in 1800, but the other districts accounted for a much larger share by 2000. The percentages you report—76% and 24% in 1800, 54% and 46% in 1900, and 19% and 81% in 2000—match the tables. However, the overview and conclusion focus almost entirely on percentages, despite the tables also showing a dramatic rise in the city’s total population and a fall in Manhattan’s population after 1900. The claim that the total population rose “almost 10 times” is inaccurate: it increased from 79,216 to 8,009,185, or over 100 times. Develop the key population figures and avoid unsupported claims about where people “prefer” to live.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview through the three years, then ending with a conclusion. Time markers such as “In 1800,” “in 1900,” and “in 2000” help readers follow the comparisons, and “whereas” effectively contrasts the districts. However, the final paragraph largely repeats the overview rather than adding a useful synthesis, and “Additionally” introduces a point that repeats the preceding comparison. Some references are also unclear: “other five districts” conflicts with the fact that Manhattan is one of the five, while the table groups the other four together. To improve progression, organise the body around the changing population shares and absolute totals, and use precise references to Manhattan and the other four districts.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related language, including “resided,” “percentage,” “decreased,” and “whereas,” so the main comparisons are understandable. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing statistical data. “Number of population” is not idiomatic; use “population” or “population figures.” “Rised” is an incorrect form, and “dropped to almost 3 times to the percentage” makes the intended comparison difficult to interpret. Repeated use of “people living” and “percentage” also limits precision. Choose concise statistical expressions such as “the share of residents,” “accounted for,” and “fell to,” and distinguish clearly between a percentage and a population total.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a clear contrast in “whereas the percentage increased…” and a subordinate clause beginning “with the passage of time.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. The opening should be “The tables illustrate,” because the plural subject requires a plural verb. Articles and prepositions are also inconsistent in phrases such as “in first 100 years” and “in the New York city”; use “in the first 100 years” and “in New York City.” The sentence beginning “Additionally” has an unclear comparison structure, and “which is almost 3.5 times more” does not clearly identify what is being compared. Practise accurate agreement, articles, and complete comparison patterns.

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