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 presented table state the changes in total population of New York city across the timespan of two centuries. The first table shows combined population of New York comprising of all five districts. In 1800s the population was seventy nine thousand two hundred and sixteen which then increased to three point four million in 1900. In 2000s the total population of all five districts reached eight million. The second and third table shows comparison of Manhattan and other four districts along with their population figures and their percentage in entire population. During 1800s Manhattan contributed 76% to total population with sixty thousand five hundred and fifteen people in its district whereas the others contributed 24% with eighteen thousand seven hundred and one poeple in combined four districts of Brooklyn. Bornx, Queens and Staten Island. In 1900s the population of Manhattan reached one point eight million with percentage in total population dropping to dropping to 54% and one point five million in other districts increasing to 46% in total population. A major change has occured in 2000s where population of Manhattan decreased to one point five million contributing only 19% and other districts contributing 81% in total population with six point four million people combined in all four districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main time points and make relevant comparisons between Manhattan and the other four districts. The figures and proportions are generally accurate, including Manhattan’s fall from 54% in 1900 to 19% in 2000 and the other districts’ rise to 81%. However, the response lacks a clear overview that explicitly summarises the dominant trends: the city’s total population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share declined and the other districts became the majority. Some details are also imprecise: the total in 2000 is given as “eight million” rather than the more exact 8,009,185, and the 1900 population of the other districts is described as “one point five million” rather than 1,587,109. A concise overview and more precise reporting would make the key features clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a broadly sensible chronological order, moving from 1800 to 1900 and then 2000, and it distinguishes the total-population table from the district comparison. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, the writing is presented as one long paragraph, and there is no separate overview to establish the main trends before the details. Some linking is repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “In …” to introduce each period, while the sentence beginning “During 1800s” becomes difficult to follow because several figures and district names are packed together. The repeated phrase “dropping to” also interrupts flow. Use clear paragraphing, an overview, and more varied, precise links between comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “combined population,” “contributed,” “percentage,” and “decreased,” which helps communicate the main comparisons. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “across the timespan of two centuries.” However, some choices are imprecise or unnatural: “the presented table state” and “percentage in entire population” do not sound idiomatic, and “reached” is not the clearest verb for a population figure. Spelling errors such as “poeple” and “Bornx” detract from accuracy, and “dropping to dropping to” is an editing slip. Prefer standard chart language such as “shows,” “accounted for,” and “as a proportion of the total,” and proofread names and repeated words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses linked with “whereas” and “with,” and the overall meaning is usually understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, however. Subject–verb agreement is inconsistent in “The presented table state” and “The second and third table shows”; these should use “states” and “tables show.” Articles and number forms are also awkward in “In 1800s” and “in 2000s,” while “comprising of” uses an unnecessary preposition. The long sentence listing the four districts is difficult to control, and the repeated “dropping to” suggests insufficient proofreading. Build accuracy by checking agreement, article use with years, and sentence boundaries, while retaining your attempts at varied structures.

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