Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-19

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 three tables records the changes in population of New York from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the total population increased between 1800 and 2000. Between 1800 and 2000, the population in the district Manhattan declined while the combined population in other four districts inclined.

Over the year 1800, the total population in New York are 79,216, 76% -Manhattan and 24% - Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Making Manhattan district the largest contributor to the population size of New York.

In the year 1900, the increased in entire population from the earlier year moved to 3,437,202, 54% - Manhattan and 46% - Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. The proportion of Manhattan district to the total population decrease upto 20%, while the other districts increased upto 20%.

In the later year 2000, the population of New York increased around five times of the population in the year 1900, - 8,009,185. The entire population is madeup from 19% of Manhattan and 81% of other districts, showing a 25% decrease in one causing a 25% increase in other.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall contrast: New York’s total population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other four districts’ share rose. The figures for 1800 and 2000 are reported accurately, and the 1900 totals and percentages are also included. This gives the response a relevant overview and coverage of the key stages. However, some comparisons are unclear or inaccurate: Manhattan’s share fell from 54% to 19% between 1900 and 2000, not by 25%, and the other districts’ share rose from 46% to 81%, also a 35-percentage-point change. The statement that the population increased “around five times” is imprecise. More precise comparisons and the district population figures would strengthen the report further.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs moving through 1800, 1900 and 2000. This chronological structure makes the main stages easy to follow, and phrases such as “Overall” and “In the later year 2000” signal progression. However, some links between ideas are mechanical or unclear. For example, “Between 1800 and 2000” is repeated in the overview, and the final clause about one share “causing” an increase in the other suggests a causal relationship rather than simply contrasting proportions. The sentence beginning “Making Manhattan district…” is a fragment, which interrupts the flow. Use clearer comparisons and connect related figures within complete sentences to make progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing tables and trends, including “total population,” “proportion,” “declined,” and “increased.” These choices generally communicate the subject clearly. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, which limits precision: “inclined” does not mean increased, “the increased in entire population” is not a natural phrase, and “madeup from” is unsuitable for describing population composition. “Upto” is also written as one word and is not the best choice for reporting percentage changes. Aim for a more controlled set of trend expressions, such as “rose,” “accounted for,” and “fell by,” and distinguish percentage points from percentage changes when comparing shares.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast with “while” and a participle construction in “showing a 25% decrease.” However, errors in agreement, verb forms and sentence construction are noticeable. “The three tables records” should use a plural verb, while “the total population … are 79,216” needs singular agreement. “The increased … moved to” is also an inaccurate grammatical construction, and “Making Manhattan district…” is a sentence fragment. In addition, the tense shifts between past and present in the description of historical data. These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the main message, but they reduce accuracy. Check subject–verb agreement and make each sentence grammatically complete.

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