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)

The given three table illustrates the changes in total population.First table shows changes in the population of New York city( all five districts) from 1800 to 2000 while the second table shows changes in total population in Manhattan and third table shows changes in the population in other districts like Brooklyn,Bronx,Queens,Staten Island in the same time frame.

In the overall prespective population in New york in all fve districts in 1800 was at the lowest level which increased by more than triple by 1900 and by the year 2000 it was 10 times higher as compared with the previous years.While the population in Manhattan in the year 1800 was less which gradaully increased by more then double in 1900 and by 2000 in came down to slighly less as compared to 1900. On the other hand the populaion in other districts in 1800 was least whivh jumped more then 4 timesin year 2000

In detail, the population in Manhattan in the year 1800 was 76% of total population which slighlty decreased to 54% in year 1900 and by 2000 in jumped down to 19%. Furthemore the population in other districts in the year 1800 was lowest at 24% in 1800 which gradually increased to 46% in year 1900 and went upto 81% in the year 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You cover the main changes across the tables and provide a clear overview: the city’s population grew substantially, Manhattan’s share declined, and the other districts’ share rose. The percentages are reported accurately, and you note that Manhattan’s population peaked in 1900 before falling by 2000. However, some numerical comparisons are inaccurate or unclear. The city’s population in 1900 was not more than triple its 1800 level; it was over forty times as large. Likewise, the other districts’ population in 2000 was more than four times its 1900 figure, rather than simply describing a jump from the 1800 low. Include key population figures alongside the percentages to make the comparisons more precise and fully supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a detail paragraph. The progression from the city-wide trend to Manhattan and the other districts is generally logical, and phrases such as “On the other hand” help signal contrast. This gives the report a coherent overall arrangement. However, some links are mechanical or unclear, particularly the repeated use of “in the year” and the long overview sentence that combines several trends. The final paragraph also repeats information already mentioned without adding population figures. Use clearer sentence boundaries and organise the details consistently—for example, compare each area’s population and share across the three years—to make the progression smoother and cohesion more flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant trend vocabulary, including “increased,” “decreased,” “gradually,” and “went up,” so the main ideas can be understood. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward for a formal data report. “At the lowest level” and “was least” are imprecise, while “jumped down” does not naturally describe a falling percentage. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “prespective,” “gradaully,” “slighlty,” and “populaion,” which reduce the accuracy and polish of the vocabulary. Aim for precise reporting verbs and collocations such as “rose sharply,” “accounted for,” and “declined to,” and proofread spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentences, including comparisons across years and the contrast introduced by “While” and “On the other hand.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur in sentence boundaries, articles, agreement, and clause construction. For example, “The given three table illustrates” has a number-agreement error, and “by 2000 in came down” contains an incorrect pronoun and verb form. Several sentences run together without a space after a full stop, as in “population.First table,” and the overview sentence beginning “While the population…” is not smoothly connected to a main clause. Use shorter, complete sentences as well as carefully controlled complex ones, and check articles, verb forms, and punctuation during revision.

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