Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-26

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 first table demonstrates variations in the total population of New York City between 1800 and 2000. While the remaining two tables provide the data on how the population was distributed across its five districts over the same 200-year period.

Overall, the number of people has drastically increased in New York City over the span of 200 years. While Manhattan city shows a decline in population, the other four districts - Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island showed a growth during that period.

In 1800, the total population of New York City was 79,216, which showed a jump to 3,437,202 by the year 1900. The population continue to increase to 8,009,185 by the end of year 2000. Manhattan city contributed the highest percentage in total population in 1800 with 76%, while the other districts collectively made up the remaining 24%.

By 1900, the population dropped in Manhattan, now contributing 54%, in comparison to other districts that contribute about 46%. The trend continue in 2000, as the other four districts showed a significant surged in population by an increase to 81%, that left Manhattan with 19% of total population

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the population changes. You selected key data points to support your description, such as the total population figures and the shifting percentages between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the response could be improved by providing more specific comparisons between the individual districts (e.g., noting that Queens or Brooklyn saw the most significant growth) rather than grouping them together as 'the other four districts' throughout the analysis. This would provide a more comprehensive summary of the provided tables.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'While,' 'In 1800,' and 'By 1900' to guide the reader through the timeline. However, there are some minor issues with cohesion; for instance, the second sentence is a fragment ('While the remaining two tables...'), which disrupts the flow. Additionally, the transition between the general population growth and the district-specific percentages could be smoother. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the progression of ideas is generally clear.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'variations,' 'distributed,' 'collectively,' and 'significant surged.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and form. For example, you wrote 'significant surged' instead of 'significant surge' and 'Manhattan city' (Manhattan is a borough, not a city). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring correct word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The population continue to increase' (should be 'continued'), 'The trend continue' (should be 'continued'), and the aforementioned sentence fragment in the introduction. Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article usage errors. While these errors are noticeable, they do not cause difficulty for the reader. To reach a higher band, ensure consistent subject-verb agreement and check for sentence fragments.

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