Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-13
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 tables illustrate how much the total population of New York City changed from 1800 to 2000. It also illustrates the proportion of total popultion in Manhattan and other four districts in the same period.
Overall, the population increased in New Yock City over the given period. In terms of population of Manhattan, it first incrased, then decreased, but overall it was an increase. The population of all other districts combined increased in the given period.
The number of people living in New Yock City began at 79,216 in 1800, and reached to over 8,00,000 by 2000. Similarly, in terms of all four districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) comined, the population was 18,701 at the start, which increased to account for 46% in 1900, and climbed further to 6,471,089 by the year 2000, which accounted for 81% of total population.
On the other hand, the population of Manhattan at the start was 76% (60,515) of total population, after which it decreased to 54% (1,850,093) in 1900, and plunged further to just 19% (1,538,096) by the end.
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 the main features of the data well, identifying the overall growth in population and the shifting proportions between Manhattan and the other four districts. You successfully selected key data points to support your summary. However, there is a minor inaccuracy in the reporting of the total population figure for 2000, where you wrote '8,00,000' instead of 8,000,000. Additionally, while you mention the trends, a more explicit comparison of the growth rates between the two groups would have strengthened the analysis. Overall, the response is clear and addresses all parts of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on specific data sets. You use cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'On the other hand', and 'after which' to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the total population trends from the specific district proportions. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the information is easy to follow. To reach a higher band, ensure that referencing is always precise and avoid minor mechanical errors in linking phrases.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'proportion', 'accounted for', and 'plunged'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'popultion' and 'New Yock', which are distracting but do not impede communication. You attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is good, but ensure that you check the spelling of proper nouns and key terms. The use of 'plunged' is a good choice for describing a significant decrease in percentage, showing an awareness of style and precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the relative clause in '...which accounted for 81% of total population'. While there are some grammatical slips, such as 'reached to over' (should be 'reached over') and 'in the given period' (repeated phrasing), the majority of your sentences are clear and error-free. Punctuation is generally handled well. To improve, focus on eliminating minor errors in verb usage and prepositional phrases to ensure a more polished and professional tone throughout the report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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