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 first table provides overall population data of New York between 1800 and 2000. While the second and third table gives information about five districts situated in New York.

Overall, New York illustrated a massive growth in its population over the decades. While Manhattan had a highest residents in the 1800s, but it was decreased until the 2000s. Whereas the other four districts showed a significant rise in population over the period.

Initially, New York had just less than 80 thousand people in the 1800s, but later in the 1900s, the numbers went up to around 3.8 million . In the 2000s, New York had around 8 million residents.

In the 1800s, Manhattan has approximately 60 thousand people (76%), and after the next decade in the 1900s, it rose upto 1.8 million (54%). In the 2000s, the numbers were declined (19%).

On the other hand, rest of the four districts combinedly had a gradual increase of 24% (18,701), 46% (nearly 1.5 million), 81% (over 6 million) respectively in the 1800, 1900 and 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main pattern accurately: New York’s total population grew substantially, Manhattan’s share fell, and the other districts’ combined share rose. The overview also notes Manhattan’s early dominance and later decline, which captures an important comparison. Several figures are reported correctly, including Manhattan’s 1800 population and the 2000 share of the other districts. However, the total for 1900 is given as “around 3.8 million” rather than 3,437,202, and the 1900 population of the other districts is described as “nearly 1.5 million” rather than 1,587,109. The account of Manhattan in 2000 gives only its percentage, omitting its population of 1,538,096. More precise and complete reporting would strengthen an otherwise relevant summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the total population and district figures. This makes the main comparisons easy to locate. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Initially,” and “On the other hand” help signal the stages of the report. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. “While … but” in the overview combines two contrasting linkers, and “after the next decade” is confusing because the tables compare 100-year intervals. The final paragraph lists three percentages and populations in a compressed sentence, making the relationships between the figures less smooth. Use direct chronological transitions and connect each year clearly to its data.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing change, including “massive growth,” “significant rise,” “declined,” and “combined.” These choices communicate the broad trends, and the response generally remains understandable. However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise or unnatural, such as “highest residents,” “the numbers went up,” and “combinedly had a gradual increase.” “Population” or “share” would also be more precise than repeatedly referring to “numbers,” especially when discussing percentages. There is some repetition of basic terms such as “population” and “people,” and a few expressions do not fit formal data reporting. Aim for accurate collocations and a wider set of precise verbs for increases, decreases, and proportions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including contrast clauses beginning with “While” and “Whereas,” and most of the intended meaning can be followed. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction. For example, “the second and third table gives” has a plural subject with a singular verb, while “Manhattan has approximately” shifts into the present tense when describing historical data. “While Manhattan had …, but it was decreased” is an incorrectly joined contrast structure, and “the numbers were declined” uses an unsuitable passive form. There are also inconsistent tense choices across the report. Use past simple consistently for the historical figures and check that each sentence has a complete, correctly linked structure.

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