Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The tables provide statistical data of the population of New York City, Manhattan and other four districts across three centuries, starting from 1800 to 2000.

Looking at the overall New York City's population data, it had 79,216 occupants in 1800, and a century later it was recorded as 3,437,202, which peaked at 8,009,185 by the year 2000. Similarly, the other four districts accounted for 24% of the whole population in 1800, then climbed to 46% and 81% in 1900 and 2000 respectively.

Manhattan's population comprised of 60,515 residents in the 1800 was representing 76 percent of the whole population. In the upcoming two centuries, it dropped to 54% and 19% respectively.

Overall, a steady rise in population was observed in all five districts of New York as well as other four districts named Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island throughout the period. While Manhattan's population reached a peak in 1900 before a decline in 2000, a continuous substantial drop in its cumulative population percentage compared to other districts was recorded.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the population changes. You included relevant data points from the tables to support your observations, such as the total population figures and the percentage shifts between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the response could be improved by explicitly mentioning the specific population figures for the other districts rather than just their percentages, which would provide a more comprehensive summary. Additionally, the statement that Manhattan's population declined in 2000 is slightly inaccurate based on the provided data, which shows a rise from 1900 to 2000. Overall, you have addressed the requirements well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. You use cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'In the upcoming two centuries', and 'Overall' to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the total population trends from the district-specific analysis. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the general city-wide data to the specific breakdown of Manhattan versus the other districts. To reach a higher band, ensure that referencing is always precise, as the transition between the total population and the district percentages could be slightly smoother.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, using terms like 'statistical data', 'accounted for', 'comprised of', and 'substantial drop'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally successful. However, there are minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'other four districts' being slightly repetitive and the phrase 'Manhattan's population comprised of' being grammatically awkward (it should be 'comprised' or 'was composed of'). Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly throughout the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'Manhattan's population comprised of 60,515 residents in the 1800 was representing', which is a run-on construction. Another error is 'the other four districts' when referring to the group as a whole. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication or cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and avoiding unnecessary 'of' after 'comprised'. The majority of your sentences are clear and effectively convey the data.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.