Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The tables illustrate the comparison in terms of the total population of New York City in 1800, 1900, and 2000, together with the changes in the population distribution of five districts(Manhattan, Brooklyn,Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island).

Overall, it can be seen that the total population within the city increased significantly over time, with decreased percentage of people living in Manhatten and a larger proportion of residents living in other districts.

First and foremost, the numbe of the population of New York City was 79216 in 1800, after which it soared substantially to [redacted phone] in 1900 and peaked at [redacted phone] in 2000.

In details, despite the fact that an increasing number of people were living in Manhattan, this number of people were representing a smaller share of the total population, going down from 76% to 19%.

On the other hand, while more and more people were choosing to settle in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, this number of people started making up a larger share of the total population in the city, going up from 24% to 81%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully identifies the main trends in the data, noting the significant overall population growth and the shift in distribution from Manhattan to the other four districts. The overview is clear and covers the key features. However, the report is somewhat limited in its analysis of the specific data points provided in the tables. While the total figures are mentioned, the specific growth patterns of individual districts (like the rapid rise of Brooklyn or the Bronx) are not detailed enough to reach the highest band. The response is accurate and addresses all parts of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'In details', and 'On the other hand' are used to guide the reader. However, the transition between the general population data and the district-specific data could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is generally clear, though some of the linking phrases feel slightly mechanical. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task. The student uses terms like 'soared substantially', 'peaked', and 'proportion' correctly. There are some minor errors, such as 'In details' (should be 'In detail') and a spelling error ('Manhatten' instead of 'Manhattan'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. The repetition of 'number of people' in the final two paragraphs also limits the lexical variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the numbe of the population' (typo and awkward phrasing) and 'this number of people were representing' (subject-verb agreement and wordiness). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors do not impede communication. To improve, the student should focus on reducing wordiness and ensuring subject-verb agreement in complex sentences.

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