Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-31

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)

These tables give the information about the variation of population in New York City and its five districs over the years from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, the there was a significant icrease in the population over the years. Meanwhile, Manhattan played a significant part in population growth in year 1900. But in 2000, other districts population surged.

In year 1800, total population of New York City inclusive of all districts was 70,216, in which Manhattan contributed 76% of total population, while other districts including Brookyln, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island population was 24%. In 1900, there was massive increased in population which was 3,437,202 people. Regarding the last year, Manhattan remained on top in population increase which was 54% than total combined population of other districts.

In the year 2000, New York's population increased to 8,009,185. But during this year, Manhattan did not give significant contribution of population. Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island showed the 81% of population growth, breaking all the previous records. While Manhattan's population growth was only 19%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall pattern: New York City’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share grew. The overview and the comparison between 1900 and 2000 are relevant, and most reported percentages match the tables. However, the 1800 city total is given as 70,216 rather than 79,216, and the 1900 comparison is unclear: Manhattan had 54% of the total, not more than the combined population of the other districts, which had 46%. The response also gives little detail about the actual population figures for Manhattan and the other districts, so some key comparisons are less fully developed. Report the figures accurately and distinguish population totals from percentage shares.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs moving through 1800, 1900, and 2000. This chronological structure makes the main changes easy to follow, and transitions such as “Meanwhile” and “In the year 2000” help signal shifts. Cohesion is less successful in places because some links are mechanical or the relationship between ideas is unclear. For example, “Manhattan remained on top in population increase which was 54% than total combined population of other districts” does not clearly explain the comparison. The repeated use of “population” and “year” also makes the account less smooth. Use clearer comparisons and refer explicitly to shares or totals to strengthen progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “significant increase,” “surged,” and “breaking all the previous records.” These choices communicate the broad direction of change, and the response remains understandable. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “Manhattan played a significant part in population growth” suggests growth rather than its share of the city’s population, while “Manhattan did not give significant contribution” is unnatural. There are also spelling errors, including “districs,” “icrease,” and “Brookyln.” Aim for precise terms such as “accounted for,” “share,” and “population rose,” and check spelling carefully. Avoid dramatic phrasing when a neutral description better suits a data report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “while” and “which,” and the main message is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, however. The overview begins “Overall, the there was,” where the extra article disrupts the sentence. In “In year 1800” and “in year 1900,” the article is missing; “there was massive increased” also uses an incorrect form after “was.” The sentence beginning “Regarding the last year” has an unclear comparison structure, and “Manhattan's population growth was only 19%” needs a clearer grammatical link to the total population. Review articles, verb forms, and sentence construction, especially when comparing percentages.

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