Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-29

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 first table summarises the differences of the total population within New York City starting from 1800 until 2000 while the second and third tables record the changes in the population of the 5 districts within the city across the same bicentennial.

Overall, the population of New York City increased dramatically. Manhattan made up most of the population in New York City but eventually the numbers decreased by the end of this period while the percentage of the total population rose greatly within the other districts.

In the year 1800, there were only around 79000 people within New York, with 76% of people being based in Manhattan and the rest in the other districts. Within the next century, the population gradually climbed to approximately 3.4 million and the percentage of people living in Manhattan dropped to 54%. In the final year of 2000, the number of people living in New York surged to more than 8 million. However, the majority of people residing in other districts surged, accounting for 81% of the 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. You selected key data points to support your description, such as the initial population in 1800 and the final figures in 2000. However, the response is somewhat limited in its analysis of the five specific districts. While you mention Manhattan and the 'other districts,' you do not provide specific details or comparisons for the individual boroughs (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island), which were a significant part of the provided data. Including a brief comparison of how these specific districts grew relative to one another would have strengthened the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving chronologically from 1800 to 2000. You use cohesive devices such as 'while,' 'however,' and 'in the final year' to link your sentences effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the supporting details. To reach a higher band, you could vary your cohesive devices further and ensure that the transition between the general city population and the specific district data is even more seamless.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly. Phrases like 'increased dramatically,' 'gradually climbed,' and 'surged' are used effectively to describe the data trends. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, such as 'bicentennial' and 'residing,' which adds to the academic tone. However, there are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'differences of the total population' (which should be 'changes in') and 'majority of people residing in other districts surged' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Overall, the vocabulary is adequate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, allowing for easy communication. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'the majority of people residing in other districts surged,' where the verb 'surged' does not logically fit the subject 'majority of people.' Additionally, 'differences of the total population' is slightly imprecise. Despite these minor issues, your control over grammar is generally good, and your punctuation is accurate throughout the text.

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