Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · 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 9.0)

The tables present population figures for New York City as a whole, as well as a breakdown comparing Manhattan with the other four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island) between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, the total population of New York City experienced continuous, dramatic growth across the 200-year period. Additionally, while Manhattan initially contained the vast majority of the city's residents, its share dropped significantly over time as the other four districts grew to dominate the total population.

Regarding overall growth, New York City expanded from 79,216 residents in 1800 to over 3.4 million in 1900, before more than doubling to reach roughly 8 million by 2000. In 1800, Manhattan comprised three-quarters of the entire population, with 60,515 inhabitants (76%). Although Manhattan's population expanded to 1,850,093 by 1900, its relative share dropped to 54%. By 2000, Manhattan's population actually decreased to 1,538,096, representing just 19% of the total.

In contrast, the remaining four districts experienced exponential growth. In 1800, these areas held only 18,701 people, making up 24% of the city’s total. By 1900, their combined total rose dramatically to nearly 1.6 million (46%). This upward trend accelerated through 2000, when their population reached 6,471,089, constituting an overwhelming 81% majority of New York City's population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response is excellent. You have clearly identified the main trends and provided a logical overview of the population shifts. You successfully selected key data points to support your comparisons, such as the contrast between Manhattan's declining share and the exponential growth of the other districts. The inclusion of percentages adds depth to your analysis, which is a key requirement for high-scoring Task 1 responses. You have covered all parts of the prompt effectively, ensuring that the reader understands both the total population growth and the specific district-level changes over the two-century period. No information is missing, and the data is presented accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction sets the stage, the overview highlights the main trends, and the body paragraphs provide detailed supporting data. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Regarding overall growth,' 'In contrast,' and 'Although,' to link sentences and paragraphs smoothly. The referencing is precise, and the structure is easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive phrasing, and the paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the total population trends from the district-specific comparisons.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary that is well-suited to an academic report. Phrases such as 'continuous, dramatic growth,' 'exponential growth,' and 'constituting an overwhelming 81% majority' show a high level of lexical control. You use precise terminology to describe the data, and your word choices are consistently accurate and natural. There are no spelling errors, and the vocabulary is varied enough to avoid repetition, even when discussing similar trends across different time periods. This is a very strong performance in terms of lexical range and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

Your control over grammar is excellent. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses and comparative constructions, with high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and you demonstrate a high level of flexibility in your writing. The use of tense is consistent and appropriate for describing historical data. You have successfully balanced simple and complex structures to maintain a professional and academic tone throughout the report.

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