Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-01
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 following three charts showcase data on the population of three distinct sets of regions in the years 1800, 1900, and 2000. The first set covers population data in numbers for New York City, inclusive of all five districts. Further, the second set comprises the population in numbers and the percentage of the total population. Similarly, the third set includes other four districts such as Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island's population data in numbers, as well as the percentage of the total population.
Although the first chart indicates that New York City's population in 1800 was 79,216, it roughly quadrupled to 3,437,202 people in the next hundred years. However, in the year 2000, the rate of growth of the population reduced to just half of the population size in the year 1900, to 8,009,185 people.
In 1800, Manhattan had a population of just 60,515, which accounted for 76 percent of the total population. Whereas the other four districts, altogether, had a population of 18,701 people, which just accounted for 24 percent of the total population. However, in the next hundred years, Manhattan and the other four districts came to a point where their populations were of equal strength.
At last, in the year 2000, the other four districts surpassed the population strength of Manhattan by a difference of about five-million people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response covers the main trends and provides a clear overview of the population changes. You successfully identified the significant growth in the total population and the shift in distribution between Manhattan and the other districts. However, the report lacks a clear 'overview' paragraph that synthesizes the most important trends at the beginning or end. Additionally, while you mention the 1800 and 2000 data, the 1900 data is under-utilized in terms of comparative analysis. To reach a higher band, ensure you highlight the most striking differences and trends more explicitly rather than just listing figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the data. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the total population to the district-specific breakdown. You use some cohesive devices like 'However' and 'Whereas' to contrast information effectively. To improve, try to vary your linking words further and ensure that the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is smoother. The current structure is functional, but more sophisticated referencing would elevate the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'surpassed', 'accounted for', and 'quadrupled'. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'population strength' and 'reduced to just half of the population size', which are slightly unnatural. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise academic terminology related to data description (e.g., 'witnessed a surge', 'remained stagnant', 'proportionate share') would help you achieve a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear, and the meaning is never in doubt. There are some minor grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the other four districts... had a population of 18,701 people, which just accounted for 24 percent', where the phrasing is slightly clunky. You have good control over punctuation and basic sentence construction. To improve, aim for more complex sentence structures and ensure that subject-verb agreement is consistently accurate throughout the text.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.