Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-22

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 compares the population in New York City between 1800 to 2000. Whereas, second and third table illustrates the changes in percentage of population in five districts of city (Manhattan, Brookly, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island). Overall the total population in all five districts surge substantially, however; the percentage of individuals in Manhattan dropped significantly. Similarly, in other four districts the percentage of capita climbs up dramatically.

New York city witnessed the total population rose from 79,216 to 8,009,185 in 2 centuries from 1800 to 2000. Manhattan's percentage of total population declined from 76% to 19% between the time frame of 200 years, nevertheless population of Manhattan increased from 60,515 to [redacted phone] from 1800 to 1900 and population dropped to [redacted phone] in 2000.

The left four districts Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island experienced an increase in poupulation from 18701 to ending at a peak [redacted phone] and the percentage of total population jumped from 24% to 81% in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall contrast: New York’s total population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. The figures you give for the city total and the district populations are consistent with the tables, and you also note Manhattan’s rise to 1900 followed by a decline. This covers the key trends and supports the overview. However, some features are less fully reported: the city’s 1900 total is omitted, and the other districts’ growth is described without the important 1900 comparison. The phrase “left four districts” is also imprecise, since these are the four districts other than Manhattan. Including the middle-year figures and making the comparisons more explicit would develop the summary further.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by paragraphs describing the city total and district trends. This gives the reader a generally coherent progression. However, some linking is mechanical or awkward, particularly “Whereas, second and third table” and “however;”, and the long second paragraph combines several comparisons in a way that could be more clearly signposted. The final paragraph is brief and does not compare the other districts’ figures across all three years. Use more precise transitions, and organise the details consistently by year or by Manhattan versus the other districts. Clearer referencing would also help readers follow which population or percentage each figure describes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “declined,” “surge substantially,” “witnessed,” and “jumped,” which helps communicate the main trends. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for formal data reporting: “percentage of capita,” “left four districts,” and “ending at a peak” do not express the intended comparisons precisely. There are also spelling errors such as “Brookly” and “poupulation,” and “surge” is not well matched to the subject and tense in “the total population … surge.” Aim for accurate collocations and consistent formal wording rather than using several dramatic verbs. Terms such as “share,” “accounted for,” and “rose to” would make the comparisons clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including a contrast with “Whereas” and a sentence describing Manhattan’s rise and subsequent fall. The main trends remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “between 1800 to 2000” uses the wrong preposition pattern, while “the total population … surge” has a subject–verb form problem. “Second and third table illustrates” also has agreement and article issues, and “the percentage … climbs up” shifts tense in a past-period report. Punctuation is sometimes faulty, as in “however;”. Use past-tense verbs consistently, check singular/plural agreement, and make sure contrast clauses are attached to complete sentences.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.