Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The table provides data on the changes in the share of total population across five districts in New York City from 1800 to 2000.

Overall, in 1800, Manhattan was the most populated region, whereas the numbers in other districts were significantly lower. Population increased over the period, but the proportion of total population decreased in Manhattan, while the percentage grew rapidly in other regions.

In detail, New York City's total population was 79,216 in 1800 and 76% of these people lived in Manhattan, whereas the other 24% resided in the other four districts. The number of people in New York went up to 3,437,202 in 1900. Manhattan was responsible for 54% of the total population and the rest of 46% lived in the other four regions.

The population went up rapidly to 8,009,185 in the 21st century, but the share of Manhattan in the total population of the city decreased to just 19% and the percentage of total population rose to 81% in the other four districts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively identifies the main trends, such as the shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other four districts. You have successfully selected key data points to illustrate these changes, such as the 1800, 1900, and 2000 figures. However, the task requires a summary of all five districts. While you mention 'the other four districts' as a group, the response would be more comprehensive if you had briefly highlighted the specific growth of individual districts like Brooklyn or Queens, which show significant variation. Nevertheless, the overview is clear and the key features are well-supported by the provided data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'while', and 'in detail' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the specific data points. The progression of information is easy to follow, and the relationship between the total population figures and the percentage shares is clearly articulated throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately. Phrases like 'most populated region', 'proportion of total population', and 'resided in' are used correctly. There is an attempt to use varied terminology to describe trends, such as 'increased', 'grew rapidly', and 'went up'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms for 'went up' or 'increased', such as 'surged', 'escalated', or 'experienced a marked rise', to add more precision to your descriptions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinating conjunctions like 'whereas' and 'while' effectively to contrast data. Grammar is generally accurate, and punctuation is handled well. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To improve, you could experiment with more varied complex structures, such as using participle clauses (e.g., 'Starting at 79,216 in 1800, the population surged...') to enhance the flow and sophistication of your writing.

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