Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The tables illustrate the changes in New York City's total population and its five districts (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island) from 1800 to 2000. Overall, the city's population grew significantly over the period, while Manhattan's population declined by 2000, in contrast to the substantial increases seen in the other four districts.

In 1800, New York City had a population of 79,216, with 60,515 people (76%) living in Manhattan and the remaining 18,701 (24%) residing in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. By 1900, the city's population had risen sharply to 3,437,202. Although Manhattan's population increased to 1,850,093, its proportion of total population fell to 54%, while the other four districts grew to 1,587,109, representing 46% of the city residents. By 2000, New York City's population had more than doubled to 8,009,185. Despite having over 1.5 million residents, Manhattan's share dropped significantly to 19%. In contrast, the combined population of the other four districts reached 6,471,089, accounting for 81% of the city's total population, making them the dominant residential areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the population shifts. You have successfully selected key data points from 1800, 1900, and 2000 to illustrate the growth of the city and the relative decline of Manhattan's share. The comparison between Manhattan and the other four districts is well-handled. To reach a higher band, you could have included more specific data points for the individual districts (e.g., the growth of Brooklyn or Queens) to provide a more comprehensive summary of the provided tables, as the current response focuses heavily on the aggregate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction and body paragraphs that follow a chronological progression. Cohesive devices such as 'In 1800', 'By 1900', and 'In contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from the general city-wide trend to the specific district comparisons. The referencing is clear, and the relationship between the total population and the district shares is well-maintained throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, using terms like 'illustrate', 'significantly', 'proportion', and 'dominant'. The language is precise and fits the context of describing statistical data well. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate a slightly wider variety of descriptive verbs or adverbs to characterize the trends, such as 'surged', 'plummeted', or 'steadily increased', which would add more sophistication to your analysis.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing is accurate and displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used subordinate clauses and comparative structures effectively, such as 'Despite having over 1.5 million residents, Manhattan's share dropped significantly'. The grammar is consistently error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over complex structures is solid, and there are no instances where errors impede communication. The response is highly readable and demonstrates a strong command of English grammar.

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