Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-30

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 illustrates changes in the total population of New York Coty from 1800 to 2000.

The second and third tables tell changes in the popultion of the five districts of the city, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island during the same period.

The number of people living in all five districts in New New York City inclined consistantly from 79,216 in 1800, to 3,437,202 in 1900 and it reached to 8,009,185 in 2000. Manhattan accounted 76% of total population which is 60,515 in 1800, while other districts had 18,701 population which accounted 24% of total population. In 1900, the number of people living Manhattan steadly grow up to 1,850,093 but the percentage of total population sink to 54%. However, the population of other districts leaped to 1,587,109 in 1900 as 46% of total population. In 2000, the population of Manhattan showed a drop to 1,538,096 as 19% of toal population ,while the number of people living other districts jumped to 6,471,089 as 81% of totla population.

Overall, apparently, the community of New Your City grow up in 2000 comparing to 1800. Manhattan had the biggiest population among the districts in 1800. However, in 2000, there is the trend that people prefer other districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You report the main figures accurately, including the city’s growth from 79,216 to 8,009,185 and Manhattan’s changing share from 76% to 19%. You also identify the key contrast: Manhattan was largest in 1800, while the other districts together dominated by 2000. This addresses the task with relevant comparisons. However, the overview is placed at the end and is somewhat imprecise: “people prefer other districts” suggests a reason or preference that the tables do not establish. The response could also make the overall shift in population distribution clearer and more directly compare the 1900 and 2000 patterns. A more precise overview would strengthen the selection and development of the main features.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable sequence: it introduces the tables, reports the figures chronologically, and ends with an overview. Time markers such as “In 1900” and “In 2000” help readers follow the data. However, the overview comes after the detailed figures rather than guiding the report near the beginning, and the long central paragraph combines several comparisons, making the information dense. Some linking is mechanical or unclear, particularly “However” before the other-district figures, where the contrast could be expressed more precisely. Organise the body into clearer stages or contrasting groups, and use referencing such as “this share” to avoid repeating “total population.” These changes would make progression smoother and cohesion less noticeable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “accounted,” “percentage,” “steadily,” “drop,” and “leaped,” and the intended meaning is usually clear. However, several word-choice and collocation errors reduce precision: “inclined” is not natural for population growth, “accounted 76%” needs a suitable preposition or verb pattern, and “people prefer other districts” is not supported by the data. There are also spelling errors, including “Coty,” “popultion,” “consistantly,” and “totla.” Some attempted alternatives for increase and decrease are useful, but choose them carefully to match the scale and neutrality of statistical reporting. More accurate collocations and proofreading would improve control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses linked with “while” and “but,” and the figures remain understandable. Some grammatical errors occur, especially with verb forms, articles, and prepositions. For example, “the number of people living Manhattan steadily grow up” needs a preposition and a past-tense verb, while “Manhattan accounted 76%” requires a grammatical complement such as “accounted for.” The sentence beginning “Overall, apparently” also has an awkward construction, and “there is the trend” does not fit the past-period description. Punctuation around the long comparisons is sometimes inconsistent. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and standard comparison patterns while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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