Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-04

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 illustrates that, how the population of New York City changed collectively in five districts and seprately in manhattan and other districts which include Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island in the time period of 1800, 1900 and 2000 .The population in New York City's all five districts was the highest in 2000 and the lowest in the year of 1800 ,whereas, in Manhattan, the population rate was the most in 1900.

Having a closer look to the table reveals that, in the whole New York City, the popluation rate was on its peak in the year of 2000 amounting to 8,009,185 along with the year of 1900 amounting to 3,437,202 and the least in 1800 with only 79,216. It explains that the population has being continously increasing from 1800 to 2000.

Probing further, the second table demonstrates that the population in Manhattan in the year of 1800 have the major share of total population which was 76% buit still it was the lowest in the numbers amounting to only 60,515. The number of population in Manhattan was the toching sky in 1900 which later reduced in 2000. Moreover, the third table shows the population among the rest four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island) and it is similar to the total population in terms of number as it was also in increasing pattern from 1800 to 2000.Adittionally the maximum contribution in the population percentage was in 2000 amounting to 81%.

Overall, the popluation had been going higher in the New York City but the population pattern in Manhattan had an exception.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main overall trends: New York City’s population rose substantially, while Manhattan’s population peaked in 1900 and then declined. You also include several accurate figures, such as the city totals and Manhattan’s 76% share in 1800, and note that the other districts accounted for 81% in 2000. This addresses the task, but some comparisons are under-developed or imprecise. For example, you say Manhattan had the “major share” in 1800 without contrasting this with its falling share to 19% by 2000, and you do not give the key 1900 and 2000 Manhattan figures. The claim that the other districts followed a pattern similar to the city is broadly true numerically, but their changing share could be explained more clearly. Select and compare the most significant figures more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview, followed by paragraphs on the city total and district populations, then a concluding summary. This gives the reader a coherent overall route through the information. You also use linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “Overall” to signal relationships between points. However, some connections feel mechanical or unclear: “Probing further” does not specify which comparison is being developed, and the shift from Manhattan’s percentage to its population numbers is not smoothly explained. Several sentences are crowded with multiple facts, while punctuation and spacing around full stops are inconsistent. Grouping the figures into clearer comparisons—city total, then Manhattan versus the other districts—would make progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing trends, including “reduced,” “increasing pattern,” “contribution,” and “population share.” These choices help communicate the main changes, and the meaning is generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or too informal for a data report. “The population rate” is not the same as population, “touching sky” is an unsuitable expression for a peak, and “maximum contribution” is less precise than describing the districts’ share of the total. Spelling errors such as “seprately,” “popluation,” “buit,” and “Adittionally” also reduce control. Aim for standard reporting language and check spelling carefully; precise terms such as “population,” “proportion,” “rose,” and “declined” will make comparisons clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “whereas” and “which,” and most of the intended meaning can be followed. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence boundaries. For example, “The given tables illustrates” should use a plural verb, while “the population … have the major share” needs a singular verb and a more suitable construction. “The population has being continously increasing” also has an incorrect verb form. The opening sentence contains an unnecessary comma after “that,” and several sentences run together because spaces after full stops are missing. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and verb forms, and divide long sentences so each comparison is expressed in a controlled structure.

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