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 demonstrate the total growing population of the New York city and across five districts of the city as well for the period of three centuries.Overall, the total cumulative population of New York city increased dramatically throughout the period whereas other districts of the city experienced a substantial growth of population.However, among the five districts of the city, Manhattan is an exception as it reflects an upward and downward trend for the growth of specific and total overall population.

In the year,1800 nearly 76% of the total population lived in Manhattan.Following the next century the the population of Manhattan increased to 1,850,093 comprising only 54% of the total population.Additionally, for the the last century of the period this figure dropped by 19% lasting for a population of 1,538,096.

By contrast, an opposite trend is evident for the rest of the districts of the city as the population increased from 18,701 to 1,587,109 in 1900.This account for 46% of the total population residing across the other districts of city.Consequently, the figure of population in these districts reached 6,471,089 estimated nearly 81% of the total population by the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main contrast: New York’s population grew greatly, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. The figures for 1800 and 1900, and the 2000 populations and shares, are generally reported accurately. Your overview also notes Manhattan’s rise and subsequent decline in its population. However, the opening says the tables cover “three centuries,” although the period is 1800–2000, and the overview does not give the city’s total population figures or clearly state that Manhattan’s population peaked in 1900 before falling. The phrase “dropped by 19%” is also unclear: its share fell to 19%, rather than falling by 19%. More precise overview statements and clearer distinction between population and percentage would strengthen coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction and overview are followed by a paragraph on Manhattan and one on the other districts. The contrast signalled by “By contrast” helps the reader follow the comparison, and the information is mostly presented chronologically. Some connections are less clear or mechanical, however. “Following the next century” and “Consequently” do not precisely express the time sequence or relationship between the figures, while “this figure” could refer to either population or percentage. The overview also combines several ideas in a long sentence without clearly separating the citywide trend from the district comparison. Use more precise referencing and transitions, and organise the overview around the two main trends, to make progression more consistently clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “population,” “comprising,” “residing,” and “trend,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “substantial growth” and “opposite trend.” Some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “total growing population” and “total cumulative population” are awkward, and “lasting for a population” does not clearly describe the 2000 figure. “Specific and total overall population” is also imprecise. These choices limit the precision expected for a stronger performance, even though they do not prevent the reader from understanding the main comparisons. Prefer standard collocations such as “total population,” “accounted for,” and “fell to.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including a complex overview with “whereas” and a comparison introduced by “By contrast.” The main information remains understandable, but some grammatical and punctuation errors recur. For example, “the the population” repeats an article, and “This account for 46%” has incorrect subject–verb agreement; it should be “This accounted for” or “This represented.” Commas are missing after introductory time phrases, as in “In the year,1800” and “in 1900.This,” and article use is awkward in “the New York city.” The sentence beginning “Additionally” also makes the relationship between the percentage and population unclear. Check agreement, articles, and sentence punctuation, and make sure each complex sentence has a clear grammatical structure.

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