Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-20

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 show the growth in the number of people who lived in the New York City in three different times while the second table gives information about the changes in the resident of five districts of the same city over the same time period i.e. 1800, 1900 and 2000.

Overall, the the population of the city grew dramatically with Manhattan constituting more than half of the overall population in the first two periods and the other districts together bearing more in the last period.

In 1800, the total population of the city of New York was 79,216, out of which a little more than three halves (76%, 60,515 in number) lived in Manhattan and the rest one quarter (18,701) resided in other four districts; Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, together. During the next 100 years, the population grew significantly and reached a total of3,437,202, which is more than 50 times increase. This year, Manhattan district again stood out with being residence of more than half of the population, 54 percent, to be specific.

In 2000, the scenario changed and people lived in other four districts top. A little more than four fifth, of the total libed in the mentioned four districts, leaving our only 19 percent percent living in the district of Manhattan.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main pattern: New York’s population rose sharply, Manhattan held a majority in 1800 and 1900, and the other districts dominated by 2000. The figures for 1800 and 1900, including Manhattan’s shares, are reported accurately, and the overview gives the reader a useful summary. However, the account is uneven: the 2000 total of 8,009,185 and Manhattan’s population decline from 1,850,093 to 1,538,096 are omitted, so the scale and nature of the final change are not fully shown. The phrase “more than 50 times increase” is also imprecise. Include the key 2000 figures and directly compare the districts’ population changes to make the main features more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure, moving from an introduction and overview to chronological detail in separate paragraphs. Time markers such as “In 1800,” “During the next 100 years,” and “In 2000” help the reader follow the sequence, and the comparison between Manhattan and the other districts is relevant. Some connections are less smooth or precise, however. “This year” has an unclear reference, and the final paragraph is brief and does not connect the 2000 figures to the earlier population growth. The long 1800 sentence also combines several figures and explanations, making the information harder to process. Use clearer references and organise the comparisons so each period’s total and district distribution are easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing change and comparison, including “grew dramatically,” “reached a total,” and “stood out.” The meaning is generally understandable, but several word choices and collocations are unnatural or inaccurate: “the resident of five districts,” “bearing more,” and “people lived in other four districts top.” There are also spelling or word-form slips, including “libed” and “leaving our only,” which reduce precision. Some expressions, such as “a little more than three halves,” are awkward when a direct percentage would be clearer. Aim for standard data-reporting phrases such as “accounted for,” “population,” and “the remaining share,” and proofread carefully for spelling and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including a relative clause in “which is more than 50 times increase” and a time clause beginning “During the next 100 years.” Most of the intended meaning can be understood, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “The first table show” has subject–verb disagreement, while “the the population” repeats an article. The opening sentence also has awkward article and number patterns (“the New York City,” “three different times”), and “more than 50 times increase” lacks a grammatical construction. In the final paragraph, “leaving our only 19 percent percent” contains errors that obscure the sentence. Check agreement, articles, and sentence construction, especially when expressing ratios and remaining proportions.

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