Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-14

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 8.5)

The tables compare changes in the population of New York City as a whole and in Manhattan and the other four districts combined between 1800 and 2000.

Overall, New York City’s population increased dramatically over the 200-year period. While Manhattan was the dominant district in terms of population at the beginning of the period, its share of the city’s total population declined steadily, whereas the combined population of the other four districts grew substantially and became the majority by 2000.

In 1800, New York City had a total population of only 79,216 people. Manhattan accounted for 60,515 residents, representing 76% of the city’s population, while the other districts together contained just 18,701 inhabitants, or 24%.

By 1900, the city’s population had risen sharply to 3,437,202. Manhattan remained the largest district, with 1,850,093 people, although its proportion of the total had fallen to 54%. In contrast, the population of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island combined climbed to 1,587,109, making up 46% of the city’s residents.

In 2000, New York City’s population reached 8,009,185. However, Manhattan’s population declined slightly to 1,538,096 and represented only 19% of the total. Meanwhile, the other four districts expanded significantly to 6,471,089 inhabitants, accounting for 81% of the city’s population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have clearly identified the main trends and provided a concise overview of the shift in population distribution between Manhattan and the other four districts. You have selected relevant data points to support your observations, such as the specific percentages in 1800 and 2000, which effectively illustrate the changing demographic landscape. The comparison between the two groups is consistent throughout the report, and you have successfully addressed all parts of the prompt by summarizing the total population growth alongside the district-specific changes. The information is accurate and well-integrated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction sets the context, the overview highlights the main trends, and the body paragraphs provide detailed supporting data in chronological order. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'whereas', 'In contrast', and 'Meanwhile' are used naturally and effectively to link ideas and contrast the different districts. The paragraphing is skillful, and the flow of information is smooth, making the report very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'dominant district', 'declined steadily', 'grew substantially', and 'accounted for' are used accurately. You avoid repetition and use a variety of terms to describe numerical changes, such as 'risen sharply', 'expanded significantly', and 'declined slightly'. The vocabulary is sophisticated and contributes to the professional tone of the writing. There are no errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the response. You utilize a variety of complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses ('While Manhattan was the dominant district...', 'although its proportion of the total had fallen...') and participial phrases ('representing 76% of the city’s population'). Punctuation is used correctly to manage these structures. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence.

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