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)
The 3 presented tables demonstrate the population of New York city and its five districts which include Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten island from 1800 to 2000.
Overall, the population of New York city grew dramatically at first but its growth trend slowed down at the end. Additionally, Manhattan continued to harbor most of the population for a while until it was overtaken by the other four districts.
New York city's population began with around eighty thousand in 1800 but this number exploded to more than 3.4 million in 1900 and 8 million in 2000.
As for the districts of New York city, Manhattan held onto 76 percent of the population in 1800, standing at a little over 60 thousand. However, in the following century, the other four districts nearly caught up to Manhattan in numbers, hovering at 46 percent while 54 percent remained in Manhattan. Finally, in 2000, the population of the other four districts grew to a staggering approximately 6.5 million; taking the lead at 81 percent of the total population in New York city.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the population changes. You selected key data points, such as the initial population in 1800 and the final figures in 2000, to support your summary. However, the response could be improved by providing more specific data for the individual districts mentioned in the second and third tables. While you mention the shift in percentages, including a few more concrete figures for specific districts (like Brooklyn or Queens) would have provided a more comprehensive analysis of the data provided in the prompt. Overall, you have addressed the requirements of the task well.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological and thematic progression. You use cohesive devices such as 'Overall,' 'Additionally,' and 'However' to link your ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general population trends from the specific district analysis. The flow of information is easy to follow, and the progression from the total population to the district-specific breakdown is logical. The use of referencing is generally clear, ensuring the reader understands which data points are being discussed.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'grew dramatically,' 'harbor most of the population,' and 'staggering approximately' show a good command of descriptive language. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choice is generally appropriate for an academic report. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more varied synonyms for 'population' or 'districts' to avoid repetition and demonstrate a wider lexical range. The current vocabulary is accurate and allows for a clear, professional tone throughout the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is good. There are minor issues, such as the capitalization of 'island' in 'Staten island' and the slightly awkward phrasing 'held onto 76 percent,' but these do not impede communication. Your use of comparative structures is accurate, and the grammatical control is generally strong. To improve, ensure consistent capitalization of proper nouns and refine the phrasing of complex statistical comparisons to sound more natural.
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