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 3 tables illustrate the variations in the total number of people residing in New York City and the distribution of the population across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, New York City experienced an upward trend in the data given. In addition, the total number of people in year 1800 remained consistently lower than other, while year 2000 had the largest number of residents. The Manhattan's percentage decreased and others increased.

To begin with, in 1800, the total population of the five districts were 79,216 and it went up to 3,437,202 in 1990 and peaked at 8,009,185 in year 2000, which was the highest figure.

Regarding the distribution, in 1800, Manhattan had 60, 515 at 76%, and by 1900 1,850,093 with 57%, and it ended at 2000 with population of 1,538,096 at 19%. As the population increases the percentage declined. By contrast, in 1800 other districts population were 18,701 at 24% and by 1900 they had 1587,107 population at 46% and 2000, 6,471,089 at 81%. Other districts contributed the most to the togal population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: the city’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. You also include figures for all three years and both population groupings. However, some details are inaccurate: the city total in 1900 is mistakenly given as 1990, Manhattan’s 1900 share is 54%, not 57%, and the other districts’ 1900 population is 1,587,109, not 1,587,107. The overview could also be more informative by noting that Manhattan’s population itself peaked in 1900 before declining, while the other districts drove most of the later growth. These relevant but unevenly developed comparisons fit the response’s current level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the city total and district distribution. The sequence from 1800 to 2000 is generally easy to follow, and phrases such as “By contrast” help signal the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts. To make the progression more controlled, avoid repeating the same time-point pattern without clearly distinguishing population totals from percentages. The overview’s “upward trend in the data given” is broad, and “the total number of people in year 1800 remained consistently lower than other” is unclear. More precise referencing and smoother links between the figures would strengthen cohesion; the organisation is already coherent, but some connections remain mechanical or imprecise.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “distribution,” “percentage,” “declined,” “peaked,” and “contributed,” which helps communicate the main trends. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “residing in New York City.” However, some choices are awkward or imprecise: “variations” is less suitable than “changes” for these figures, and “the data given” is vague. “The Manhattan’s percentage” is also an unnatural phrase, while “the togal population” contains a spelling error. Aim for accurate, natural collocations and consistent terms such as “population share” and “accounted for.” This would make the comparisons more precise without requiring a substantially broader vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast structure “By contrast” and the clause “which was the highest figure.” The main meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “the total population … were” has subject–verb disagreement, and “in year 1800” needs an article. The phrase “As the population increases the percentage declined” shifts tense and does not clearly identify which population is meant. There are also awkward constructions such as “by 1900 1,850,093 with 57%,” which needs a complete clause. Work on agreement, articles, tense consistency, and complete sentence structures while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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