Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-17
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 provide information about the changes in the total number of population of New York city, and the population of its five districts such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island between 1800 and 2000.
Overall, the total number of population in New York City increased dramatically over the period. While Manhattan accounted for the vast majority of the population in the first year, the other four districts became increasingly dominant by the final year.
In 1800, the population in New York City had only 79,216 and rapidly grown to 3,436,202 in 1900 which consistently increased by over 8,009,185 in 2000. Manhattan’s population increased dramatically from 60, 515 in 1800 to 1,850,093 in 1900, before it fell slightly in 2000 with 1,538,096. Manhattan’s share of population in New York City declined considerably from 76% in 1800 to 19% in 2000.
Other districts (Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) increased significantly from 18,701 in 1800 which climbed progressively to 1,587,109 in 1900 and 6,471,089 in 2000. The average total population share in New York City increased from 24% in 1800, 46% in 1900 and 81% in the final year.
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
You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the population changes. You selected key data points to support your descriptions, such as the shift in Manhattan's percentage share and the growth of the other districts. However, there is a minor inaccuracy in your interpretation of the data: you state the population 'consistently increased by over 8,009,185 in 2000', which is a misreading of the total figure (8,008,278). Additionally, the phrasing 'average total population share' is slightly confusing; it would be more precise to refer to the 'combined share' of the other districts. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information effectively. You use cohesive devices such as 'While', 'before', and 'In 1800' to guide the reader through the timeline. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the total population trends from the specific district analysis. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the data points is generally clear, though some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the flow between the specific figures and the broader trends.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately, using terms like 'accounted for', 'dominant', 'declined considerably', and 'climbed progressively'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'total number of population', which is redundant; 'total population' is more natural. You also have a slight error in the phrasing 'average total population share', which does not accurately reflect the data provided. Despite these minor inaccuracies, the vocabulary is varied enough to communicate the main features of the tables effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the 'While...' clause in the second paragraph. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'the population in New York City had only 79,216', which should be 'was only 79,216', and 'rapidly grown', which should be 'rapidly grew'. Punctuation is generally correct, although there is an unnecessary space in '60, 515'. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication, and you demonstrate a good grasp of tense usage when describing historical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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