Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-30
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 table illustrates the changes in population in percentage of New York, Manhattan, and other districts from year 1800 to 2000.
The first table shows the overall population of all five districts of the New York City in the year 1800 which were 79,216. Furthermore, it was increased in year 1900 and reached to 3,437,202. In contrast, it results in 8,009,186 in year 2000.
The second table indicates the population of Manhattan. In 1800, its population were 60,515 which was 76% of the total population and reached to 1,850,093 till year 1900 and was 54%, whereas there was declined in the population in the year 2000 which was 1,538,096 which was 19% of the population.
The third table represents the data of remaining four districts of New York City including Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. In year1800, the population were 18,701, while in the year 1900 and 2000, it was 1,587,109 and 6,471,089 respectively which are 46% and 81% of the total population.
Overall, the tables indicate there was huge increase in the population from year 1800 to year 2000 in the five districts of New York City.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the overall population trends and the specific shifts in Manhattan versus the other four districts. You have successfully selected key data points to illustrate the changes over the three time periods. However, the analysis is somewhat descriptive and lacks a more analytical comparison. For instance, while you mention the percentages, you could have highlighted the 'crossover' point more explicitly where the other four districts overtook Manhattan in population share. The overview is present but could be more synthesised to better highlight the main trends rather than just listing data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organised into paragraphs, with each focusing on a specific table. This makes the information easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore', 'In contrast', and 'whereas', which help the flow. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, in the third paragraph, the phrase 'represents the data of remaining four districts' is a bit clunky. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that the relationship between sentences is more fluid would elevate the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'overall population', 'percentage', and 'declined'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic verbs like 'shows', 'indicates', and 'represents'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'surged', 'fluctuated', 'accounted for', or 'constituted'. There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'it results in' instead of 'it reached' or 'totalled'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'its population were' instead of 'was') and article usage (e.g., 'in year 1800' instead of 'in the year 1800'). Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings like 'there was declined in the population'. These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on consistent verb tense usage and correct prepositional phrases will improve your accuracy.
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