Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Overall, the population of New York City increased dramatically over the 200-year 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 tota

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response provides a clear overview of the population trends in New York City and its districts. You successfully identified the main features, such as the dramatic overall growth and the shifting dominance from Manhattan to Brooklyn and Queens. However, the response is slightly incomplete as it ends abruptly mid-sentence ('tota'). Furthermore, while you mention the total population figures, you could have strengthened the response by including more specific data points from the tables to support your comparisons, particularly regarding the specific population figures for the five districts in 1800 versus 2000. Including more precise data would have elevated the analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction followed by chronological progression through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate these time periods, which helps the reader follow the narrative. Cohesive devices such as 'In 1800', 'During the nineteenth century', and 'By the end of the period' are used appropriately to signal transitions. The flow of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the districts and the overall city population is clearly established. The abrupt ending is a minor issue, but the overall structure remains coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a data-summary task. Phrases such as 'increased dramatically', 'rapid growth', 'populous districts', and 'accounted for a substantial proportion' are used effectively and accurately. The vocabulary is natural and conveys the information clearly. While there are no major errors in word choice, the range is somewhat standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'growth' to avoid repetition, though the current level is sufficient for a clear and professional report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a good command of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'Manhattan also grew considerably, although its share of the city’s population began to decline.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The sentence structures are varied and contribute to the overall readability of the text. The only notable issue is the incomplete final sentence, which is a mechanical error rather than a grammatical one. Overall, the control of grammar is strong.

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