Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The total population growth of New York City from 1800 to 2000 is shown in the first table, while the population changes across the five districts—Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island—over the same two-century period are outlined in the second and third tables.

Overall, while the city thrived, Manhattan, which used to have the highest percentage of the population, saw a decline, whereas the other districts grew considerably.

A century after the first headcount was taken, Manhattan experienced a loss in its share of the population by 22%. Conversely, the other four districts gained the exact percentage that Manhattan lost over that period.

In the last century, the four districts—Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island—which were once rural, became busy suburban districts that, by 2000, accounted for 81% of the total population of New York City. However, the remaining district experienced a gradual decline in its population by 300,000 people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have provided a clear overview and identified key trends, such as the shift in population share from Manhattan to the other districts. However, the response lacks sufficient detail regarding the actual data provided in the tables. For instance, you mention a '300,000' decline for Manhattan, but you do not reference the total population figures for the city or the specific growth numbers for the other districts. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific data points from the tables to support your observations, rather than relying primarily on percentages and general descriptions. The task requires a more comprehensive summary of the provided statistics.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively. You use cohesive devices such as 'while,' 'conversely,' and 'however' to link ideas, which helps the flow of the text. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of information from the general city trend to the specific district changes is logical. To improve, ensure that the transition between the first and second century of data is more explicitly linked to the specific timeframes provided in the tables to enhance the overall clarity of the chronological progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your meaning clearly. Words and phrases like 'thrived,' 'headcount,' 'accounted for,' and 'gradual decline' are used appropriately in context. There is some attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is good. However, the range is somewhat limited for a higher band. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations or varied synonyms for 'growth' and 'decline' to avoid repetition and add sophistication to your writing. Overall, the vocabulary is accurate and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, the use of relative clauses ('which were once rural') and contrastive structures ('while the city thrived, Manhattan... saw a decline') shows good control. There are very few grammatical errors, and the punctuation is handled well. To reach a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or more varied introductory phrases, to demonstrate greater flexibility in your grammatical range.

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