Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-24

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 8.5)

Overall, the population of New York City increased dramatically over the 200-year period. Manhattan had the largest population in the early years, but its growth was much slower than that of Brooklyn and Queens, which became the most rapidly growing districts by 2000. Staten Island remained the least populated district throughout the period.

In 1800, New York City had a relatively small population of around 80,000 people, and most residents lived in Manhattan. Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island each had much smaller populations at that time.

During the nineteenth century, the city experienced very rapid growth. By 1900, the total population had risen to several million. Brooklyn showed the largest increase and became one of the most populous districts. Manhattan also grew considerably, although its share of the city’s population began to decline.

In the twentieth century, growth continued, but the pattern changed. Queens expanded sharply and eventually became one of the largest districts by 2000. The Bronx also increased steadily, while Staten Island grew more slowly and remained the smallest district. By the end of the period, New York City had a population of roughly eight million people, with Brooklyn and Queens together accounting for a substantial proportion of the total.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively summarizes the main trends and highlights key comparisons across the 200-year period. You successfully identified the overall growth of NYC and contrasted the shifting dominance of the districts, such as Manhattan's early lead versus the later expansion of Brooklyn and Queens. The inclusion of specific data points, such as the initial population of 80,000 and the final figure of eight million, provides a clear overview. The report covers all parts of the task well, and the information is logically selected to illustrate the main features. To reach a higher band, ensure that you include more specific data points from the tables for the intermediate years (e.g., 1900 or 1950) to further support your descriptions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the overview, the early period, and the later developments. Cohesive devices such as 'During the nineteenth century', 'By 1900', and 'In the twentieth century' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the timeline. The transition between the general overview and the specific district analysis is smooth. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural throughout the text. The structure is well-managed, making the report easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for an academic report. Phrases such as 'increased dramatically', 'remained the least populated', 'expanded sharply', and 'substantial proportion' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of the report. While the range is sufficient for the task, incorporating a few more sophisticated or topic-specific collocations related to demographic trends could elevate the lexical score further. Overall, the word choice is accurate and appropriate for the context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as 'Manhattan also grew considerably, although its share of the city’s population began to decline.' The grammar is consistently accurate, with no significant errors that impede communication. Punctuation is handled correctly, and the sentence construction is varied, showing good control over complex forms. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which indicates a strong command of English grammar. You have maintained a high level of accuracy throughout the response.

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