Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-06

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 compares the population of New York City and its five districts in 1800, 1900 and 2000.

They also show the proportion of residents in Manhattan and four other cities over the same time.

Overall, New York City increased dramatically in 2000. Although Manhattan is highly populated, its total population share declined considerably, while the combined other four cities increased and were dominant in 2000.

In 1800, New York had about 79,216. Manhattan recorded up to 60,515 with 76% share, whereas the other combined cities had just 18,701 and 24% share of total population. In 1900, New York accounted for about 3,437,202 individuals. Manhattan housed an increasing number of inhabitants of about 1.8 million and above with a decrease in share of 54%, meanwhile the four other cities put together had just between 1.5 million people with the a decreased share of just 19%.

By 2000, the city’s population had risen further to 8,009,185. Manhattan’s population fell slightly to 1,538,096, reducing its share to 19%. In contrast, the combined population of the other districts increased substantially to 6,471,089, accounting for 81% of New York City’s residents overall.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response covers all parts of the task well. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the dramatic population growth of New York City and the shift in population distribution from Manhattan to the other four districts. The data is accurately reported, and the comparisons between the years and the specific districts are clear. The overview provides a concise summary of the key findings. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are interpreted with complete accuracy; for instance, in the 1900 paragraph, the description of the 'other cities' share is slightly confusing, as the data shows a significant increase in their actual population rather than a decrease in share.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, and the chronological breakdown of the data. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Although', and 'whereas' are used effectively to link ideas and contrast the districts. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different time periods. The flow is smooth, and the information is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise, as the term 'other cities' is used to refer to 'districts', which could be clarified for better precision.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'increased dramatically', 'total population share declined considerably', and 'accounting for' are used effectively. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally successful. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as referring to the districts as 'cities' throughout the text, which is technically incorrect based on the prompt. Improving the precision of your terminology would elevate the lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses starting with 'Although' and 'whereas'. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are some minor slips, such as 'New York had about 79,216' (missing the noun 'residents' or 'people') and 'the a decreased share', which is a minor article error. These errors do not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, aim for a greater variety of complex structures and ensure absolute precision in article usage.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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