Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-02

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 chart illustrates the details of New York population and how the population changed in multiple districts of the city across 200 years period of time.

Overall, what stand out from the table is that the New York population increased considerably, between [redacted phone]. Manhattan was the most populated district in 1800, but the other four districts experienced dramatic rise and surpassed Manhattan by the end of 2000.

Looking into deatils, In 1800 the New York population was 79,216 and Manhattan solely contribute 76 percent of the total population but with time Manhattan population decreased and the other four districts show noticeable rise from 24 to 46 percent in 100 years. Moreover, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island experienced significant rise and peaked at 6,471,089 which is 81 percent of the whole city population. On the other hand manhattan ratio declined to 19 percent acroos 200 years period of time. By the end of 2000, the New York total population was 8,009,185.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall pattern: New York’s population grew substantially, while Manhattan’s share fell and the other districts’ share rose. The figures for the city total in 1800 and 2000, and the 2000 population and percentage for the other districts, are reported accurately. This gives the response a relevant overview and useful supporting detail. However, some key information is less fully developed: the city’s 1900 total is omitted, and Manhattan’s population actually rose from 60,515 to 1,850,093 by 1900 before falling to 1,538,096 in 2000. Saying it “decreased” without distinguishing these stages is unclear. Also, the other districts’ population did not “peak” at the final figure within the data; it increased across the periods shown. Include the intermediate figures and describe the changes more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement, moving from an introduction to an overview and then to supporting details. The contrast signalled by “On the other hand” helps distinguish Manhattan’s declining share from the growth elsewhere, and the reader can follow the broad comparison. However, the final paragraph places several different points in one long sequence, so the population figures and percentage changes are not always easy to track. “With time” and “Moreover” connect ideas, but the relationships between the 1800, 1900 and 2000 data could be made more explicit. Organise the details chronologically, and use clearer references such as “By 1900” and “By 2000” to guide the reader through each stage.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for describing change, including “increased considerably,” “dramatic rise,” “surpassed,” and “declined.” These choices communicate the main trends, and the response remains understandable. Some expressions are imprecise or do not collocate naturally, however: “the details of New York population,” “Manhattan solely contribute,” and “peaked at” are awkward in this context. There are also spelling errors, including “deatils” and “acroos,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise table-reporting language and check spelling carefully. For example, describe the figures as the city’s “population” or “population share,” and use “accounted for” when reporting a percentage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “but” and a time clause beginning “when.” The main message is generally clear, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “what stand out” needs subject–verb agreement (“what stands out”), and “Manhattan solely contribute” needs a past-tense verb (“contributed”). The phrase “across 200 years period of time” also lacks the article and a natural grammatical construction; use “over a 200-year period.” Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, particularly after “Looking into details” and with “Manhattan.” These errors do not usually prevent understanding, but more consistent control of verb forms, articles and sentence boundaries would strengthen the response.

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