Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)
The provided tables illustrate information regarding the total population of New York City and five districts of the city - Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island - in 1800, 1900, and 2000.
Overall, it is evident that New York City's number of residents was low initially, but the population of the city surged over the two-century period. Although the population of districts excluding Manhattan started lower, it surpassed Manhattan by 1900.
Looking first at New York City, the total population of it was at 79,216 in 1800, Manhattan constituting 76% of total with 60,515, while the other four districts accounted for 24% (18,701). In the 20th century, New York City experienced a drastic increase of 3,357,986 in population, closing the gap with 8 percentage points between Manhattan and the other four districts.
The population of New York City rose dramatically from 3,437,202 to 8,009,185 in 2000. Brooklyn's, Bronx's, Queen's, and Staten Island's populations remained sustainably above Manhattan's, with 6,471,089 individuals constituting 81% of the city, whereas Manhattan stood at 1,538,096.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response covers all parts of the task well. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the overall population surge and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. The data is accurately reported, and you have made relevant comparisons between the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the main features. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are interpreted with absolute precision; for instance, your calculation regarding the 'gap' in the 20th century could be more clearly linked to the specific figures provided in the tables to avoid any ambiguity.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Looking first at', 'while', and 'whereas' are used appropriately to link information. The flow is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the comparison between the districts. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a repetitive structure at the start of your sentences, but overall, the organization is clear and coherent.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately. Phrases like 'surged', 'constituting', and 'drastic increase' demonstrate a good level of control. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'sustainably above', which is not the most natural collocation in this context; 'consistently' or 'significantly' would be more precise. However, the vocabulary is generally appropriate for an academic report and does not impede communication. You are able to use less common items effectively to describe trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used relative clauses and comparative structures effectively. While there are occasional errors, such as 'total population of it' (which should be 'its total population') and 'Queen's' (which should be 'Queens's' or simply 'Queens'), these are minor and do not affect the clarity of your writing. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally good. You have shown a solid grasp of grammar throughout the task.
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