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 tables represent changes in the city of New York along with its five major districts that are Manhattan, Brookly, Bronx, Queen, Staten Island in terms of total population, expressed in percentage.

Overall, total popluation of the city almost doubled over the time period. On further analysis other famous districts of the city like Brookly, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island showed rapid growth and lead in supporting the city's make up in later year.

However, Manhattan district noted a significant decline in contributing to the city's constituents.

Manhattan consituted to majority of human make up for the city with over three quaters(76%) in the year 1800. However, throught the two centuries contrary to growing popluation of the city which almost doubled itself, the district marked a sharp decline with contributing less than twentieth(19%) of the population in the year 2000.

To the contrary other noteable districts of the city witnessed tremendous human growth. The percentage point contribution of these districts alomst doubled for both centuries. Although these districts have become leading contributors for the city, for the year 1800 and 1900 Manhatthan surpased these districts with almost over double and twelve point percentage respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main contrast: Manhattan’s share fell while the combined share of the other districts rose, and you note that Manhattan still had the larger share in 1800 and 1900. These are relevant features and support a clear overview. However, the overview says the city’s population “almost doubled,” which misrepresents the data: it rose from 79,216 to 8,009,185. The other districts’ share did not “almost double for both centuries”; it increased from 24% to 46%, then to 81%. The response also omits the key change in absolute population: Manhattan grew to 1,850,093 by 1900 before falling to 1,538,096, while the other districts continued to expand. More precise reporting and development of these figures would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate discussion of Manhattan and the other districts. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “However,” and “To the contrary” help signal comparisons. The progression is not always smooth, though: the overview repeats the contrast later discussed in the body, while the final paragraph combines several comparisons without clearly explaining the figures behind them. Some references, such as “these districts,” are understandable but could be more precise, and “for both centuries” is unclear. Organise the body around the two time intervals or the population and percentage changes, and use transitions that accurately show the relationship between each point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of formal and less common expressions, including “significant decline,” “tremendous human growth,” and “leading contributors.” However, several choices are unnatural or imprecise for describing population data: “human make up,” “city’s constituents,” and “percentage point contribution” obscure the intended meaning. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “popluation,” “consituted,” “throught,” and “Manhatthan.” These do not make the overall message impossible to follow, but they reduce clarity and control. Prefer straightforward, accurate terms such as “population,” “share,” and “accounted for,” and check spelling carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including the contrastive sentence beginning “Although these districts have become leading contributors…” and clauses introduced by “However.” The main ideas are generally understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. For example, “the city almost doubled” lacks a clear subject for what doubled, and “Manhattan consituted to majority” uses an incorrect verb pattern and is missing an article. In “the district marked a sharp decline with contributing,” the verb construction is faulty. The final sentence also has an awkward comparison structure. Practise accurate patterns such as “accounted for the majority,” “its share declined,” and “the other districts’ share rose from…to…,” while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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