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 given first table illustrates the difference in the overall population of New York City between 1800 and 2000, a period of 200 years. The remaining two tables shows changes among the five different districts of the following city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) in the same time span. Overall, population of the city had grown over the period among four different districts. While Manhattan had a significant drop in the population.

In 1800, population of four different districts of the city were at 18,701 which was 24% of the total population of the city. It rose to 1,587,109 in 1900, occupied 46% of the population. In one century from 1900 to 2000, the growth of the population went to 81% with 35% increase in just on century and the total population reached 6,471,089.

In sharp contrast to this, in 1800, Manhattan occupied the most of the community with 76% of all city which was 60,515 individuals. In 1900, althogh the numbers of people icreased from 60,515 to 1,850,093 but the total proprtion of the city in this district had decreased to 54%. Whereas, in 2000, population and also the proportion of the city fell with 1,538,096 and 19%, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main contrast: the population outside Manhattan grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share of the city total declined. The figures and percentages you report for 1800, 1900 and 2000 are accurate, and the overview gives the reader a useful broad picture. This meets the task well, with some features reported more fully than others. However, the opening says the city’s population grew “among four different districts,” which is unclear, and the overall totals of 79,216, 3,437,202 and 8,009,185 are not reported. Also, the other districts’ combined population rose in absolute terms by 2000, so distinguish that growth from their increasing share. A more precise overview and clearer comparison of total and district figures would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by a paragraph on the other districts and one on Manhattan. Time markers such as “In 1800,” “In 1900” and “in 2000,” together with “In sharp contrast,” help guide the reader through the comparisons. However, some links are mechanical or unclear. For example, “the growth of the population went to 81%” does not clearly identify whether this means population share or population size, and “Whereas, in 2000” is an awkward transition that leaves the sentence fragment-like in relation to the previous one. The overview’s reference to “four different districts” also makes the comparison harder to follow. Use clearer topic sentences and explicit references to the combined districts’ share and population.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “overall population,” “proportion,” “significant drop” and “in sharp contrast,” and the reader can generally understand the comparisons. There is some range, but several word choices and collocations are imprecise or unnatural, which limits clarity. For instance, “the difference in the overall population” suggests a comparison between two values rather than change over time; “occupied 46% of the population” is not a natural way to describe a share; and “the most of the community” is unclear. Spelling errors such as “althogh” and “icreased” also detract from control. Choose standard data-reporting phrases such as “accounted for,” “population share” and “increased,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast structure with “While Manhattan…” and a clause beginning “Although the numbers of people increased…”. The main comparisons remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Subject–verb agreement is incorrect in “The remaining two tables shows” and “population … were”; articles are missing in phrases such as “population of the city” and “76% of all city”; and the opening “While Manhattan had a significant drop…” is a dependent clause used as a sentence. The final paragraph also combines clauses awkwardly with “Whereas, in 2000…”. Practise complete sentence structures, agreement, and article use, then punctuate contrast clauses so each sentence has a clear main clause.

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