Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-26

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 tables illustrates the total population change from 1800 to 1900 of all five disctricts in New York City while the other tables shows the same data for other five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

Overall, there is a significant increase in the total population of New York City and highest population in year 2000. Although, the trend of increasing population is observed for all the districts, Manhattan is the only exception showing drop in population from year 1900 to 2000.

The total population of the New York City in year 2000 was 8,009,185 which was increased from 3,437,202 in year 1900 and from 79,216 in year 1800. In other districts except Manhattan the total population was increase from 18,701 in year 1800 to 1,587,109 in the year 1900 lastly to 6,471,089 in the year 2000, consequently increasing the percentage of total population. But for Manhattan the population first increased from 60,515 to 1,850,093 from the year 1800 to 1900 and decrease in the population to 1,538,096 in year 2000 while the percentage of total population decreased which was opposite as compared to other discricts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall pattern accurately: New York City’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s population fell between 1900 and 2000 as the other districts continued to grow. The figures you give for all three years and for both district groups match the tables, and you report the changing shares, including Manhattan’s decline and the other districts’ rise. This covers the key comparisons and provides a relevant overview. To make the report more complete and precise, clarify that the first table gives the citywide total, rather than describing it as the total for “all five districts,” and state the percentage changes explicitly (Manhattan: 76%, 54%, 19%; other districts: 24%, 46%, 81%). Some comparisons are present but not fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a paragraph presenting the figures. The overview usefully signals the main contrast between Manhattan and the other districts, and sequencing the data by year makes the trends understandable. However, progression within the final paragraph is less controlled: the citywide total, the other districts, and Manhattan are packed into long sentences, making comparisons harder to follow. Linking expressions such as “while,” “but,” and “consequently” are used, but some connections are awkward or unclear, particularly “consequently increasing the percentage.” Separate the citywide figures from the district comparisons, and use clearer references to the two groups to improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing data, including “significant increase,” “trend,” “population,” and “percentage,” so the main information is generally clear. There is some variation in how you describe change, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive: “the same data for other five districts,” “population was increase,” and “showing drop” do not sound natural in this context. Spelling errors such as “disctricts” and “discricts” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, conventional reporting phrases and check spelling carefully. For example, use “the remaining four districts” for the grouped districts and “accounted for” when describing a share of the total.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including a complex overview beginning “Although” and comparisons joined with “while” and “but.” The intended meaning is usually recoverable, and the figures are presented in understandable clauses. However, some errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction remain. Examples include “The first tables illustrates,” “the other tables shows,” “population was increase,” and “the population first increased … and decrease.” The opening “Although” clause is also punctuated as a separate sentence fragment. Review subject–verb agreement and keep verb forms parallel when listing changes; for instance, write “increased … and then decreased.” These corrections would make your varied structures more controlled.

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