Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-27

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 two pie charts illustrate the percentages of the reasons why some people choose to leave the UK, while others decide to stay there.

Overall, it is evident that quality of life is the primary reason why people leave the UK. In contrast, family and friends account for the largest proportion of people who choose to remain in the country.

Looking at the first chart in more detail, quality of life is the most common reason for leaving the UK, accounting for 37% of the total. This is followed by financial reasons, which make up 24%. Employment ranks third at 18%, while weather represents 12%. Family and friends are the least common reason, accounting for only 9%.

In contrast, family and friends account for the highest proportion of people who choose to stay in the UK, at approximately 43%. Social life ranks second, representing 21%. Financial reasons and employment each account for 15%, whereas language is the least significant factor, making up just 11% of the total.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response is completely off-topic. The task instructions explicitly require a summary of data regarding the population of New York City and its five districts from 1800 to 2000. Instead, the student has written a report about reasons for leaving or staying in the UK, which appears to be a response to a completely different prompt. Because the student failed to address the provided data entirely, the response cannot be assessed for task achievement regarding the actual prompt. According to IELTS criteria, a response that is unrelated to the task must be penalised heavily in this category.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Despite the content being irrelevant to the prompt, the writing itself is well-structured. The response is organised into logical paragraphs with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Looking at the first chart in more detail', and 'This is followed by' are used effectively to guide the reader through the information. The progression of ideas is logical, and the paragraphing is appropriate. If the content had matched the prompt, this would be a high-scoring response for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a good range of vocabulary suitable for describing statistical data. Phrases such as 'account for the largest proportion', 'ranks third', and 'least significant factor' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is precise and varied, showing an ability to discuss trends and proportions effectively. While the content is incorrect for the task, the lexical control displayed is strong and would be appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response if the subject matter were correct.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the text. The student uses a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses ('...why some people choose to leave the UK, while others decide to stay there'). There are no noticeable grammatical errors, and punctuation is used correctly. The control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is excellent. The grammatical range is sufficient to support clear communication, and the accuracy is consistent, reflecting a high level of proficiency.

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