Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-21

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)

These three tables illustrates changes in the total population of New York city and changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, Although Manhattan district started the largest share holder in population of New York city, the share of Manhattan reduced substantially over the same period, in contrast the population of New York city and its other districts surged.

In 1800, the total population of New York was at 79,216 people, Manhattan holds for its 76% share making it largest populated district of New York, whereas remaining four districts constitutes of 18,701 people.

By 1900, New York grew to 3,437,202 individuals, Manhattan accounted for more than half of its total population was at 1,850,093 individuals, Meanwhile other districts climbed from 24% to 46%.

In closing year 2000, New York city represented 8,009,185 individuals which was ten times higher than 1800. Manhattan share had fallen from 54% to 19% about 1,538,096 people, While other districts jumped to 81% of total city population of 6,471,081 people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall contrast: Manhattan’s share fell while the city and the other districts grew, and you report the key figures for all three years. This gives the response a clear overview and relevant supporting detail. Some comparisons, however, are not fully precise: in 1900 Manhattan’s population was more than half of the city total, but the sentence describing this is grammatically unclear; in 2000, the other districts’ population is given as 6,471,081 rather than the table’s 6,471,089. The statement that the city was “ten times higher” than in 1800 is also an imprecise comparison. To strengthen the response, state the major shifts more accurately and distinguish population totals from percentage shares.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response follows a sensible structure, moving from an introduction and overview to the figures for 1800, 1900 and 2000. This chronological progression makes the information easy to follow, and contrasts such as “whereas” help connect related details. However, some linking is mechanical or awkward: “In closing year 2000” is not a natural transition, and “Meanwhile” is capitalised and used after a comma in the 1900 sentence, disrupting the flow. The overview also combines several ideas in one long sentence. Use clearer sentence boundaries and a small range of precise transitions, and make sure each paragraph or sentence has a clear focus. These refinements would make the progression more consistently smooth.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing change, including “reduced substantially,” “surged,” “climbed” and “jumped.” These choices help communicate the broad trends, and the meaning is generally clear. Some less natural collocations and word choices limit precision, however: “largest share holder in population” is awkward, “Manhattan holds for its 76% share” is not idiomatic, and “represented 8,009,185 individuals” is an unnatural way to report a population total. “Ten times higher” is also imprecise for this comparison. Aim for standard data-reporting phrases such as “accounted for,” “made up” and “the population stood at,” and choose verbs that describe the figures without exaggerating or obscuring the comparison.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including comparisons with “whereas” and “in contrast,” but grammatical control is inconsistent. For example, “These three tables illustrates” has subject–verb disagreement, while “Manhattan holds for its 76% share” and “Manhattan accounted for more than half of its total population was at…” contain faulty verb patterns. Capitalisation and punctuation also need attention: “Although” is incorrectly capitalised after “Overall,” and several clauses are joined with commas before “Meanwhile” or “While.” These errors sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to process. Practise building accurate sentences around one main clause, then add a correctly formed comparison or subordinate clause; check agreement, verb forms and sentence boundaries during revision.

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