Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-27

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 tables illustrate the population growth in five districts of New York city from 1800 to 2000.

Manhattan shows the maximum increase in population in years 1800 and 1900 as compared to the other 4 districts during the same years. But when it comes to the year 2000, a drastic increase in the population can be seen in the other four districts.

If we compare the rise in the number of people in Manhattan with the other four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island), it is evident that the growth is Manhattan (76%) is 2 times more in the year 1800. Coming towards the year 1900 the same pattern persists as 54% increase was observed solely in Manhattan while the other four districts show only 46% growth.

However when it comes to the year 2000, a different pattern has emerged where an abrupt change is seen. Other districts show a drastic increase in population as 81% as compared to the Manhattan which shows an increase of just 19%.

So, overall during the early years, population growth occurred in the Manhattan but in the year 2000 it was less in there and more in the other districts of the New York.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the broad shift in population share: Manhattan accounted for most residents in 1800 and 1900, while the other four districts dominated by 2000. The percentages you report (76%, 54%, 19% and 81%) match the tables, and the final summary gives a relevant overall trend. However, the opening says the tables show population growth in the five districts, while the response does not report the total city population figures or clearly distinguish changes in absolute numbers from changes in percentage share. For example, Manhattan’s population rose from 60,515 to 1,850,093 by 1900, then fell to 1,538,096; the other districts’ population increased substantially. Clarifying these figures and describing the city’s overall growth would make the key features more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, comparisons across the three years, and a concluding overview. Time markers such as “Coming towards the year 1900” and “However when it comes to the year 2000” help readers follow the sequence. However, the progression is somewhat mechanical, with repeated references to “the year” and repeated contrast markers. Some links between ideas are unclear: “the growth is Manhattan (76%) is 2 times more” does not clearly explain that this is Manhattan’s share of the total, and “the same pattern persists” oversimplifies the comparison. Organise the body around the changing shares and absolute populations, and use clearer referencing so each comparison follows naturally from the data.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing change, including “drastic increase,” “abrupt change,” “pattern,” and “compared to.” These choices make the general direction of the figures understandable. However, some expressions are imprecise or repetitive: “growth is Manhattan” is not a natural way to describe a population share, and “increase … as 81%” confuses a percentage of the total with an increase. “Maximum increase” is also inaccurate for the 1800 and 1900 figures, since the tables show population levels and shares rather than increases within those years. Use precise terms such as “accounted for,” “population share,” and “rose to,” and vary repeated phrases like “drastic increase” to improve accuracy and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple statements and longer complex sentences, including clauses beginning “If we compare…” and “However when it comes to…”. Meaning is generally recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “the growth is Manhattan … is 2 times more” has a faulty sentence structure, while “the other four districts show only 46% growth” uses a present-tense verb in a past-time comparison. The conclusion “it was less in there” also has unclear pronoun reference and awkward clause construction. There are occasional punctuation issues, such as missing commas after introductory linking phrases. Practise forming clear comparison sentences and maintaining past tense when describing the historical data; these changes would improve accuracy while retaining your range of sentence forms.

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