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)

In 1800, the New York city population was just 79,216 but in 2000 it is 8,009,185. It means with evovlving years population level has increased so much city has became very densed. Same in case of Manhattan population increased by 10 folds but previously it contribute to 76% of total population but not it just contributed to 19%. Overall New York experience significant population growth over 2 centures.

In 1800, Manhattan had a population of 60,515, accounting for 76% of New York's total population, whereas the other districts contained only 18,701 residents, or 24%. By 1900, both figures had increased dramatically. Manhattan's population reached 1,850,093, representing 54% of the total, while the combined population of the other districts rose to 1,587,109, making up 46%.

In 2000, Manhattan's population fell slightly to 1,538,096, reducing its share to just 19%. In contrast, the population of the other districts climbed sharply to 6,471,089, accounting for 81% of New York's 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 in New York City and its districts. You selected key data points, such as the shift in Manhattan's percentage share and the overall growth of the city, to support your summary. However, the introductory paragraph contains some informal phrasing and minor inaccuracies, such as stating Manhattan's population increased by '10 folds' when the data shows a different scale. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately interpreted and that the overview is more formal and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression from the general city-wide trend to a more detailed breakdown of the districts over time. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction from the chronological analysis. You use some cohesive devices like 'whereas', 'by 1900', and 'in contrast' to link ideas. However, the flow between the first and second paragraphs is slightly disjointed, and some transitions could be smoother to improve the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'accounting for', 'representing', and 'combined population'. There are some issues with word choice and spelling, such as 'evovlving', 'densed', and '2 centures'. Additionally, the phrase '10 folds' is not standard academic English. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on accurate spelling and more precise academic collocations will improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses in 'whereas the other districts contained only 18,701 residents'. There are several grammatical slips, including 'city has became very densed' (should be 'has become very dense') and 'New York experience' (should be 'experienced'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not significantly hinder the reader's understanding. To improve, work on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing historical data.

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